Section 1
Area of a Prism's Base
Property
The number of unit cubes in a single layer of a rectangular prism is the product of the layer's length and width. This quantity is also known as the area of the base.
In this Grade 5 Illustrative Mathematics lesson, students learn to describe rectangular prisms using the terms length, width, and height, and calculate volume by multiplying these three side lengths together. They connect this formula to the earlier method of multiplying the area of the base by the height, reinforcing that any face of a prism can serve as the base. The lesson builds toward standard 5.MD.C.5.b as students move from counting unit cubes to writing and applying volume expressions.
Section 1
Area of a Prism's Base
The number of unit cubes in a single layer of a rectangular prism is the product of the layer's length and width. This quantity is also known as the area of the base.
Section 2
Base Area Times Height
The volume () of a rectangular prism is the area of its base () multiplied by its height (). Since the base is a rectangle, its area is found by multiplying its length () and width ().
Section 3
Equivalent Volume Expressions
The volume of a rectangular prism can be expressed in different ways depending on which face is considered the base. For a prism with length , width , and height , the volume is always the same.
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Section 1
Area of a Prism's Base
The number of unit cubes in a single layer of a rectangular prism is the product of the layer's length and width. This quantity is also known as the area of the base.
Section 2
Base Area Times Height
The volume () of a rectangular prism is the area of its base () multiplied by its height (). Since the base is a rectangle, its area is found by multiplying its length () and width ().
Section 3
Equivalent Volume Expressions
The volume of a rectangular prism can be expressed in different ways depending on which face is considered the base. For a prism with length , width , and height , the volume is always the same.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter