Geometry
Volume from three edge lengths
Multiply the three measurements, all in the same unit. The result is in that unit cubed: centimetres give cubic centimetres.
The Formula
V = l x w x h
Multiply the three measurements, all in the same unit. The result is in that unit cubed: centimetres give cubic centimetres.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| l | Length of the base | length | One edge of the footprint. Any of the three edges may be called the length. |
| w | Width of the base | length | The other edge of the footprint. Must be in the same unit as length and height. |
| h | Height of the solid | length | How far the prism rises above the base. Doubling it alone doubles the volume. |
What Each Symbol Means
llength
Length of the base
One edge of the footprint. Any of the three edges may be called the length.
wlength
Width of the base
The other edge of the footprint. Must be in the same unit as length and height.
hlength
Height of the solid
How far the prism rises above the base. Doubling it alone doubles the volume.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate the volume of a rectangular prism page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate The Volume Of A Rectangular Prism, filed under Math. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.