To find the surface area of the square pyramid, we need to calculate the area of its base and its four triangular faces.

Step-by-step Solution:

1. Calculate the Base Area:

   • The base of the square pyramid is a square with side length given as 2 feet.
   • Area of the base (square) = $\text{side}^2 = 2^2 = 4 \, \text{ft}^2$.

2. Calculate the Area of One Triangular Face:

   • Each triangular face has a base of 2 feet (same as the side of the square base).
   • The height of each triangle (slant height) is given as 3 feet.
   • Area of a triangle = $\frac{1}{2} \times \text{base} \times \text{height} = \frac{1}{2} \times 2 \times 3 = 3 \, \text{ft}^2$.

3. Calculate the Surface Area of the Four Triangular Faces:

   • Since the pyramid has four identical triangular faces, the total area of these triangles is:
   • $4 \times 3 = 12 \, \text{ft}^2$.

4. Total Surface Area:

   • The total surface area of the square pyramid is the sum of the base area and the area of the four triangles:
   • $4 \, \text{ft}^2 + 12 \, \text{ft}^2 = 16 \, \text{ft}^2$.

So, the surface area of the square pyramid is:

$\boxed{16 \, \text{ft}^2}$

Would you like more details or have any questions?

Related Questions:

1. How do you find the surface area of a triangular pyramid?
2. How would the surface area change if the slant height increased?
3. What is the formula for the volume of a square pyramid?
4. How do you determine the slant height if only the vertical height is given?
5. Can you derive the formula for the lateral surface area of a pyramid?

Tip: When calculating surface areas of 3D shapes, always break the shape into smaller 2D shapes and sum their areas.