Skill: Calculate the volume of rectangular prisms

A rectangular prism is a box-shaped solid. Its volume is the amount of space inside it.

Use the formula:

$$V=lwh$$

where:

• $l$ is the length,
• $w$ is the width,
• $h$ is the height.

Multiplying the three dimensions works because the prism can be filled with layers of unit cubes. Each layer has $l \times w$ cubes, and there are $h$ layers.

Example: A rectangular prism has a length of $8$ cm, a width of $3$ cm, and a height of $5$ cm. Find its volume.

1. Write the formula:

$$V=lwh$$

2. Substitute the measurements:

$$V=(8)(3)(5)$$

3. Multiply:

$$8 \times 3=24$$ $$24 \times 5=120$$

4. Include cubic units because volume measures three-dimensional space:

$$\boxed{120\text{ cm}^3}$$

The volume of the rectangular prism is $120$ cubic centimeters.