Calculating the Length of the Prism

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 21 views

Understanding the Problem

To find the volume of a rectangular prism, we need to know its length, width, and height. In this problem, we are given the width of the prism, which is 3 centimeters. We are also given two relationships between the dimensions of the prism: the height is half the width, and the width is $\frac{1}{3}$ of the length.

Calculating the Length of the Prism

We are given that the width of the prism is 3 centimeters, and that the width is $\frac{1}{3}$ of the length. To find the length, we can set up an equation:

\text{width} = \frac{1}{3} \times \text{length}

Substituting the given value for the width, we get:

3 = \frac{1}{3} \times \text{length}

To solve for the length, we can multiply both sides of the equation by 3:

3 \times 3 = \text{length}

9 = \text{length}

So, the length of the prism is 9 centimeters.

Calculating the Height of the Prism

We are given that the height of the prism is half the width. Since the width is 3 centimeters, we can calculate the height as follows:

\text{height} = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{width}

Substituting the given value for the width, we get:

\text{height} = \frac{1}{2} \times 3

\text{height} = 1.5

So, the height of the prism is 1.5 centimeters.

Calculating the Volume of the Prism

Now that we have the length, width, and height of the prism, we can calculate its volume using the formula:

\text{volume} = \text{length} \times \text{width} \times \text{height}

Substituting the values we have calculated, we get:

\text{volume} = 9 \times 3 \times 1.5

\text{volume} = 40.5

So, the volume of the prism is 40.5 cubic centimeters.

Conclusion

In this problem, we were given the width of a rectangular prism and two relationships between its dimensions. We used these relationships to calculate the length and height of the prism, and then used these values to calculate its volume. The volume of the prism is 40.5 cubic centimeters.

Formula for the Volume of a Rectangular Prism

The formula for the volume of a rectangular prism is:

\text{volume} = \text{length} \times \text{width} \times \text{height}

This formula can be used to calculate the volume of any rectangular prism, as long as you know its length, width, and height.

Real-World Applications of the Volume of a Rectangular Prism

The volume of a rectangular prism has many real-world applications. For example, if you are building a rectangular box to store items, you will need to know its volume in order to determine how many items it can hold. Similarly, if you are designing a rectangular tank to hold a liquid, you will need to know its volume in order to determine how much liquid it can hold.

Summary

In this article, we discussed how to calculate the volume of a rectangular prism given its width and two relationships between its dimensions. We used the formula for the volume of a rectangular prism to calculate the volume of a prism with a width of 3 centimeters, and found that its volume is 40.5 cubic centimeters. We also discussed the real-world applications of the volume of a rectangular prism and provided a formula for calculating its volume.

Key Takeaways

The volume of a rectangular prism can be calculated using the formula: volume = length × width × height
The height of a rectangular prism is half its width
The width of a rectangular prism is $\frac{1}{3}$ of its length
The volume of a rectangular prism has many real-world applications, such as calculating the volume of a box or tank.

Final Thoughts

Calculating the volume of a rectangular prism is a simple process that requires only a few pieces of information. By using the formula for the volume of a rectangular prism and understanding the relationships between its dimensions, you can calculate the volume of any rectangular prism. Whether you are building a box, designing a tank, or simply need to know the volume of a prism, this formula is a valuable tool to have in your mathematical toolkit.

Q: What is the formula for the volume of a rectangular prism?

A: The formula for the volume of a rectangular prism is:

\text{volume} = \text{length} \times \text{width} \times \text{height}

Q: How do I calculate the length of a rectangular prism if I know its width and the relationship between the width and length?

A: To calculate the length of a rectangular prism, you can use the relationship between the width and length. If the width is $\frac{1}{3}$ of the length, you can set up an equation:

\text{width} = \frac{1}{3} \times \text{length}

Substituting the given value for the width, you can solve for the length.

Q: How do I calculate the height of a rectangular prism if I know its width and the relationship between the width and height?

A: To calculate the height of a rectangular prism, you can use the relationship between the width and height. If the height is half the width, you can set up an equation:

\text{height} = \frac{1}{2} \times \text{width}

Substituting the given value for the width, you can solve for the height.

Q: What is the volume of a rectangular prism with a width of 3 centimeters, a length of 9 centimeters, and a height of 1.5 centimeters?

A: To calculate the volume of the prism, you can use the formula:

\text{volume} = \text{length} \times \text{width} \times \text{height}

Substituting the given values, you get:

\text{volume} = 9 \times 3 \times 1.5

\text{volume} = 40.5

Q: What are some real-world applications of the volume of a rectangular prism?

A: The volume of a rectangular prism has many real-world applications, such as:

Calculating the volume of a box or container to determine how many items it can hold
Designing a tank or reservoir to hold a liquid
Calculating the volume of a prism to determine its weight or density

Q: How do I calculate the volume of a rectangular prism if I only know its width and the relationship between the width and length?

A: To calculate the volume of a rectangular prism, you can use the formula:

\text{volume} = \text{length} \times \text{width} \times \text{height}

However, if you only know the width and the relationship between the width and length, you can first calculate the length using the relationship, and then use the formula to calculate the volume.

Q: What is the relationship between the width and height of a rectangular prism?

A: The height of a rectangular prism is half its width.

Q: What is the relationship between the width and length of a rectangular prism?

A: The width of a rectangular prism is $\frac{1}{3}$ of its length.

Q: How do I calculate the volume of a rectangular prism if I know its width, length, and height?

A: To calculate the volume of a rectangular prism, you can use the formula:

\text{volume} = \text{length} \times \text{width} \times \text{height}

Substituting the given values, you can calculate the volume.

Q: What is the volume of a rectangular prism with a width of 6 centimeters, a length of 18 centimeters, and a height of 3 centimeters?

A: To calculate the volume of the prism, you can use the formula:

\text{volume} = \text{length} \times \text{width} \times \text{height}

Substituting the given values, you get:

\text{volume} = 18 \times 6 \times 3

\text{volume} = 324

Q: How do I use the formula for the volume of a rectangular prism to calculate the volume of a prism with a width of 9 centimeters, a length of 27 centimeters, and a height of 4.5 centimeters?

A: To calculate the volume of the prism, you can use the formula:

\text{volume} = \text{length} \times \text{width} \times \text{height}

Substituting the given values, you get:

\text{volume} = 27 \times 9 \times 4.5

\text{volume} = 1102.5

Q: What is the volume of a rectangular prism with a width of 12 centimeters, a length of 36 centimeters, and a height of 6 centimeters?

A: To calculate the volume of the prism, you can use the formula:

\text{volume} = \text{length} \times \text{width} \times \text{height}

Substituting the given values, you get:

\text{volume} = 36 \times 12 \times 6

\text{volume} = 2592