Need to figure out how much space a box takes up? You’re in the right place! A rectangular prism is just a fancy name for a box-shaped object — like a cereal box, a shoebox, or a shipping package 📦.
Let’s break it down step by step.
Table of Contents
📐 What Is a Rectangular Prism?
A rectangular prism is a 3D object with 6 rectangular faces. All angles are right angles, and opposite faces are equal.
Some examples:
- A book
- A brick
- A storage container
🧮 The Volume Formula
To calculate the volume (how much space is inside), use this simple formula:
Volume = Length × Width × Height
You can also remember it as:
V = l × w × h
Make sure all measurements are in the same unit (like cm, inches, or meters).
🌐 Example
Let’s say we have a box with:
- Length = 10 cm
- Width = 5 cm
- Height = 4 cm
Volume = 10 × 5 × 4 = 200 cm³
So the box holds 200 cubic centimeters of space.
🛠️ Tips
- Always use the same units.
- Volume is measured in cubic units (cm³, m³, in³).
- If you’re measuring liquid capacity, you might convert the result to liters or gallons.
📦 Where It’s Useful
- Packing and shipping
- Construction and storage
- Baking pans and containers
- Calculating capacity in tanks or bins