SSAT Upper Level Math : How to find the volume of a prism

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Upper Level Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #41 : How To Find The Volume Of A Prism

Box

The above diagram shows a rectangular solid. The shaded side is a square. Give the volume of the solid.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A square has four sides of equal length, so, as seen in the diagram below, the length, width, and height of the solid are 20, 10, and 10.

Box 3

The volume of the solid is the product of the three dimensions:

.

Example Question #42 : How To Find The Volume Of A Prism

Box

The above diagram shows a rectangular solid. The shaded side is a square. In terms of , give the volume of the solid.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The volume of a rectangular solid is the product of its three dimensions. Since the left (and right) surfaces are squares, as seen in the figure below, the missing dimension is equal to .

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The dimensions are 30, , and , making the volume

.

Example Question #51 : Measurement & Data

Can we determine the volume of this shape?

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Possible Answers:

No because this shape is flat

Yes because this is a closed shape

No because this shape only has three sides

Yes because we are given all of the side lengths 

Correct answer:

No because this shape is flat

Explanation:

Volume is only a characteristic of three-dimensional shapes. We can think of volume as space within an object or shape.  Because this is a flat shape, it does not have a volume.

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