Volume Formula for Rectangular Prisms

For a rectangular prism with dimensions length (l), width (w), and height (h), the volume is found by multiplying the three dimensions: V = l × w × h For a cube, which is a special rectangular prism where all edges are the exact same length (s), the formula simplifies to multiplying that edge by itself three times: V = s × s × s = s³.

Example: Standard Prism: An aquarium is 3 feet long, 1.5 feet wide, and 2 feet tall. Its volume is 3 × 1.5 × 2 = 9 ft³.

Cube: A cube-shaped box with an edge length of 5 inches has a volume of 5 × 5 × 5 = 125 in³.

Multiplying the length, width, and height is a mathematical shortcut for counting unit cubes. The length and width tell you how many cubes make up one flat layer at the base, and the height tells you how many layers you need to stack to reach the top..

Volume Formula for Rectangular Prisms is a Grade 6 math topic covered in Reveal Math, Course 1 in Module 9: Volume and Surface Area. Students at this level study the concept as part of their grade-level standards and are expected to explain, analyze, and apply what they have learned.