Volume is the amount of space inside a solid. We measure it in cubic units, such as cm³. You can find volume by counting unit cubes, but it is quicker to multiply.
For a cuboid, volume = length × width × height. A box 5 cm long, 4 cm wide and 3 cm high holds 5 × 4 × 3 = 60 cubes, so its volume is 60 cm³. A cube has equal edges, so its volume is edge × edge × edge.
Worked example
Find the volume of a cuboid measuring 8 cm × 5 cm × 2 cm.
- Volume = length × width × height.
- 8 × 5 = 40, and 40 × 2 = 80.
Answer:80 cm³
Key words
- volume
- the space inside a 3D shape
- cubic centimeter (cm³)
- a cube with 1 cm edges
- cuboid
- a box shape with rectangular faces
Practise this
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Common Core-referenced: 5.MD.C.5