Let each side of a cube = a cm Then surface area = 6a² cm² and surface area of 3 such cubes = 3 x 6a² = 18a² cm² By placing three cubes side by side we get a cuboid whose, Length (l) = a x 3 = 3a Breadth (b) = a Height (h) = a ∴ Total surface area = 2(lb + bh + hf) = 2[3a x a+a x a+a x 3a] cm² = 2[3a² + a² + 3a²] = 14 a² ∴ Ratio between their surface areas = 14a² : 18a² = 7 : 9