Lesson 21 Part 1: Introduction TEKS

7.9.A Readiness solve problems involving the volume of rectangular

prisms, triangular prisms, rectangular pyramids, and triangular

Volume of Solids pyramids

In Grade 6, you learned to find the volumes of rectangular prisms. Take a look at this
problem.

Find the volume of the figure shown.

2 in.

5 in.

4 in.

Explore It
Use the math you already know to solve the problem.

This figure is a right triangular prism. Imagine two prisms attached together like this:

Describe the composed figure.

What are the dimensions of the composed figure?

What is the volume of the composed figure?

How could you find the volume of the triangular prism you started with? Explain.

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 Part 1: Introduction Lesson 21

Find Out More

A right prism is a solid that has two faces (called bases) that are polygons. The bases of a
right prism are the same size and shape and parallel to each other. The other faces are
rectangles and are perpendicular to the bases. Prisms are named by their bases.

B B
h h
B
h
Triangular Prism Rectangular Prism Pentagonal Prism

To find the volume of the triangular prism on the previous page, you multiplied the three
dimensions of the rectangular prism and took half, or divided the product by 2.

So, the formula for the volume of a triangular prism is ​ 1​  lwh or 1​ ​ 1​  lw 2(​ h). The expression ​ 1​  lw
2
·· 2
·· 2
··
represents the area of the triangle, the base of the prism.

To find the volume of a right triangular prism, find the area of the
triangular base, the number of cubes in one layer, and multiply
by the height, the number of layers.
B 5 area of the base
A right pyramid is a three-dimensional figure whose base is a V 5 Bh
polygon and whose other faces are triangles that all meet at a vertex.
A rectangular pyramid has a rectangular base and four triangular faces.
A triangular pyramid has a triangular base.

You can see that the volume of a pyramid is less vertex

than the volume of a right prism with the same
base and height. You can find the volume of a
pyramid with the formula V = ​ 1​  Bh.
3
··

Reflect
1 Do you think you can use the formula V 5 Bh to find the volume of any right prism? Explain.

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 Part 2: Modeled Instruction Lesson 21

Read the problem below. Then explore how to calculate volume using the formula for
the volume of a right prism.

A packing carton in the shape of a triangular prism is shown in the diagram below.
What is the volume of this carton?

7 in.
1.5 in.
2 in.

Model It
You can use words to describe the prism.
The base of this prism is a triangle.

The base of the triangle measures 2 inches.

The height drawn to the base of the triangle measures 1.5 inches.

The height of the prism is 7 inches.

Solve It
You can use the formula V 5 Bh to find the volume of the carton.
You know the height of the prism.

You need to find the area of the base shown below.

h 5 1.5 in.

b 5 2 in.

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 Part 2: Guided Instruction Lesson 21

Connect It
Now you will solve the problem from the previous page.
2 Look at Model It. How do you know which faces of the carton are the bases?

3 Describe the shapes of the other faces.

4 Which of the dimensions of the other faces do you use to find the volume of the prism?
Explain.

5 What is the area of the base of the carton? Show your work.

6 What is the volume of the carton? Show your work.

7 How can you find the volume of any triangular prism?

Try It
Apply what you just learned about finding volume to the following problem. Show
your work on a separate sheet of paper.
8 What is the volume of the right triangular prism shown below?          

5 ft
11 ft
6 ft

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 Part 3: Modeled Instruction Lesson 21

Read the problem below. Then explore how to calculate volume using the formula for
the volume of a right pyramid.

A paperweight is in the shape of a square pyramid with a height of 6 centimeters. Find

the volume of the pyramid.

6 cm

12 cm
12 cm

Model It
You can use words to describe the pyramid.
The base of this pyramid is a square.

The square base is 12 centimeters on each side.

The other four faces are triangles that all meet at a vertex.

The height of the pyramid from the base to the vertex is 6 centimeters.

Solve It
You can use the formula V 5 ​  1 ​Bh to find the volume of the pyramid.
3
··

You know the height of the pyramid.

You need to find the area of the base shown below.

12 cm

12 cm

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 Part 3: Guided Instruction Lesson 21

Connect It
Now you will solve the problem from the previous page.
9 Look at Model It. Which face is the base?
square

10 How many other faces are there? What shape are they?
4, they are triangles

11 How does the number of triangular faces relate to the shape of the base?
4 sides on square = 4 triangles

12 What is the value of B, the area of the base of the pyramid? Show your work.
144. 12x12

13 What is the volume of the pyramid? Show your work.

1/3 x 144 x 6 = 288

14 How can you find the volume of a pyramid with a base of any shape?
You can use the same formula

for the pyramid and any base.

Try It
Apply what you just learned about finding volume to the following problem. Show
your work on a separate sheet of paper.
15 Makayla has a clock in the shape of a triangular pyramid. The pyramid is made of marble.
The area of the base is 16 square inches. The height is 4.5 inches. What is the volume of
the marble used?

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 Part 4: Guided Practice Lesson 21

Study the model below. Then solve problems 16–18.

Student Model
The student found the Aerin has two types of freezer trays to make popsicles. One tray
volume of the rectangular
makes popsicles in the shape of rectangular prisms, and the other in
prism by multiplying the
the shape of rectangular pyramids. How much more juice will fit in
area of the base times the
the prism-shaped tray than the pyramid-shaped tray?
height.
4 cm 5 cm

12 cm 12 cm

2 cm
10 cm

Notice that the base of the prism has the same area as the base of
the pyramid. Both shapes have a height of 12 centimeters.

The volume of the prism is 10 × 2 × 12 = 240 cubic centimeters.

The volume of the pyramid is ​ 1​× 4 × 5 × 12 = 80 cubic
Pair/Share centimeters.
3
··

When you use the 240 – 80 = 160

formula for the volume of
a pyramid, does it matter Solution:  The prism-shaped container holds 160 cubic
how many sides the
 centimeters more than the pyramid.
polygonal base has?

Which lengths are the 16 A bicycle ramp used for competitions is a

base and height of the triangular prism. What is the volume of
the ramp? 12 ft
triangular base?
5 ft
8 ft
13 ft

Pair/Share
How do you decide
which faces are the bases
of the prism? Solution:

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 Part 4: Guided Practice Lesson 21

17 Addison uses a metronome to help her keep Are there any shortcuts
time when she plays the piano. The metronome you can take to simplify
is in the shape of a square pyramid. The base is the calculations?
4.5 inches on each side. The height of the
metronome is 9 inches. What is the volume of
the metronome?

Pair/Share
What are the dimensions
of another pyramid with
the same volume?
Solution: 

18 Grant has a puzzle in the shape of a triangular pyramid. All of the faces How can you find B, the
are congruent equilateral triangles. The height of the pyramid is area of the triangular
7.3 centimeters. To the nearest cubic centimeter, what is the volume base?
of the pyramid? Circle the correct answer.

7.8
cm

9 cm

A 85 cubic centimeters

B 91 cubic centimeters

C 171 cubic centimeters

D 256 cubic centimeters

Pair/Share
Leo chose B as the correct answer. What did he do wrong? How can you distinguish
between the base of the
triangle and the area of
the base of the pyramid?

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 Part 5: TEKS Practice Lesson 21

Solve the problems.

1 A sculpture is in the shape of a triangular pyramid. The height of the pyramid is 15 feet. What is the
volume of the sculpture?

7 ft 6 ft

A 35 cubic feet

B 63 cubic feet

C 105 cubic feet

D 210 cubic feet

2 Janet needs to purchase one of the shipping containers below. Write the words “Large,” “Medium,” and
“Small” under the appropriate container based on their volumes.

8 in.
16 in.
12 in.
[not drawn
6 in. 9 in. to scale]
12 in. 4 in. 20 in. 12 in.

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 Part 5: TEKS Practice Lesson 21

3 Two water tanks are shown. Tank A is a rectangular prism and Tank B is a triangular prism. Tank A is
filled with water to the 6-meter mark. Some of the water from Tank A is being transferred to Tank B
so that the water level in Tank A is at 2 meters. Shade the amount of water in Tank B to indicate the
approximate height of the water in Tank B after the transfer. Also write the height, to the nearest whole
number of meters, in the answer box provided.

Tank A Tank B
4m 9m
10 10
9 9
8 8
7 7
Meters

Meters
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 6m 1

6m
[not drawn to scale]

In Tank B, the height of the water is approximately     meters.

4 The base of a right triangular prism is a right isosceles triangle whose equal sides measure
25 cm each. The volume of the prism is 0.075 cubic meters. Find the height of the prism.

Answer

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 Part 5: TEKS Practice Lesson 21

Solve the problems.

5 Jillian purchases laundry detergent that comes in a box shaped
like a rectangular prism. The dimensions of the box are shown.
How many cubic inches of detergent does the box hold? 15 in.
Show your work.

8 in.
20 in.

Answer 

6 Kadisha has two gelatin molds. One is in the shape of a triangular prism, and the other is in the shape of
a rectangular prism. Which mold will hold more gelatin mixture? Explain.

6 in.
5 in.
3 in.
8 in.
4 in. 3 in. 2 in.

7 A square pyramid has a vertical height of 9 m and a base with sides 13 m by 13 m. The pyramid has
a completely filled solid interior. How many cubic meters of material did it take to construct the
entire pyramid?
Show your work.

Answer 

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 Part 5: TEKS Practice Lesson 21

8 Roberto buys a jewelry box in the shape of a rectangular prism that has dimensions 10 in. by 8 in.
by 2 in. Tatiana buys one that has dimensions 5 in. by 6 in. by 5 in. Whose jewelry box has a greater
volume? How much greater is it?
Show your work.

Answer 

9 Shayne makes a rectangular pyramid for a school project. The teacher says the volume of the
pyramid needs to be less than 50 cubic inches. The base of his pyramid has an area of 20 square inches.
The height is 6 inches. Does his pyramid meet the requirements? Explain.
Show your work.

Answer 

10 Sanjit has a mold for clay with the dimensions shown. How much clay can fit
in the mold?
Show your work. 17 cm

14 cm 9 cm

Answer 

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