Question

Ana finds the volume of a right rectangular prism with length 1/2 cm, width 1 1/2 cm, and height 2 cm using the cube method. Find the volume of the prism using the formula method. What answer should Ana get?

Answer 1

First, let's calculate the volume of the prism using the cube method:

To use the cube method, we can represent the dimensions of the prism as a cube with side lengths equal to the dimensions of the prism.

1/2 cm = 0.5 cm
1 1/2 cm = 1.5 cm

Now, the side length of the cube would be the maximum of these dimensions, i.e., 2 cm.

Therefore, the volume of the prism using the cube method would be:
Volume = side length * side length * side length
Volume = 2 cm * 2 cm * 2 cm
Volume = 8 cubic cm

Now, let's calculate the volume of the prism using the formula method:

The formula to find the volume of a rectangular prism is:
Volume = length * width * height

Given:
Length = 1/2 cm = 0.5 cm
Width = 1 1/2 cm = 1.5 cm
Height = 2 cm

Therefore, the volume of the prism using the formula method would be:
Volume = 0.5 cm * 1.5 cm * 2 cm = 1.5 cubic cm

So, Ana should get a volume of 1.5 cubic cm for the prism using the formula method.