What is the volume formula for a rectangular prism?

The volume of a rectangular prism is calculated by multiplying its length, width, and height together. This formula—Volume = length × width × height—captures the three-dimensional nature of the prism, as each dimension contributes to the overall space the prism occupies.

To visualize this, imagine the rectangular prism as a box. If you know how long it is (length), how wide it is (width), and how tall it is (height), you can find out how many cubic units fit inside the box by multiplying these three measurements together.

This means that each unit of measurement in the formula (length, width, and height) contributes to filling the entire three-dimensional space, resulting in the volume. In contrast, adding the dimensions together or using only two dimensions would not sufficiently represent the fullness of the space within the prism.