Volume is the space inside a solid. For any prism, volume = area of cross-section × length. For a cuboid this is length × width × height, measured in cubic units like cm³.
Surface area is the total area of the outside faces, measured in square units like cm². For a cuboid, find the area of the three different faces, add them and double the total. Volume fills; surface area wraps.
Worked example
A cuboid measures 6 cm × 4 cm × 2.5 cm. Find its volume.
- Volume = length × width × height.
- 6 × 4 = 24 and 24 × 2.5 = 60.
Answer:60 cm³
Key words
- volume
- space inside, in cubic units
- surface area
- total area of the faces, in square units
- cross-section
- the shape of a slice through a prism
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New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: 7.G.B.6