measurement · Year 6 · Suggested learning sequence
Volume of a rectangular prism
A rectangular prism (a box shape) can be filled with layers of centimetre cubes. The bottom layer holds length × width cubes, and there are as many layers as the height. So volume = length × width × height, measured in cubic centimetres (cm³). Adding the lengths or finding the faces' areas does not give the volume. To find a missing length, multiply the two you know, then divide the volume by that answer.
Sample questions
What is the volume of this rectangular prism, in cubic centimetres?
- Volume = length × width × height.
- The base holds 9 × 3 = 27 cubes, and there are 8 layers.
- 27 × 8 = 216 cm³.
Answer: 216
What is the volume of this rectangular prism, in cubic centimetres?
- Volume = length × width × height.
- The base holds 4 × 7 = 28 cubes, and there are 8 layers.
- 28 × 8 = 224 cm³.
Answer: 224
What is the volume of this rectangular prism, in cubic centimetres?
- Volume = length × width × height.
- The base holds 6 × 2 = 12 cubes, and there are 8 layers.
- 12 × 8 = 96 cm³.
Answer: 96