We are working with Cambridge Assessment International Education towards endorsement of this title.

14 Volume, surface
area and symmetry

E
14.1 Calculating the volume
of prisms
the formula:

Exercise 14.1
Focus
1
PL
You can work out the volume of a prism using
volume = area of cross-section × length

Copy and complete the workings to find the volume of each prism.
M
a b

area of
cross-section area of
= 20cm2 length = 8cm cross-section
SA

= 15cm2
length = 6cm
Volume = area of cross-section × length Volume = area of cross-section × length
= 20 × 8 = cm3 = × = cm3
c d

area of
cross-section area of
= 12cm2 length = 9cm cross-section
= 30cm2
length = 12cm
Volume = area of cross-section × length Volume = area of cross-section × length
= × = cm3 = × = cm3

174
Original material © Cambridge University Press 2021. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
ISBN_9781108756502.
 We are working with Cambridge Assessment International Education towards endorsement of this title.

14.1 Calculating the volume of prisms

2 Copy and complete the workings to find the volume of each prism.

Tip
In these prisms, you need to work out the area of the
cross-section first, then work out the volume.

a Area of cross-section = area of rectangle

= base × height = 8 × 4 = cm2
4cm

E
Volume = area of cross-section × length 10cm
= × 10 = cm 3
8cm
b Area of cross-section = area of triangle
1

c
Volume

Area of
cross-section
PL
= 2 × base × height

= 12 × 6 × 5 =

= area of circle
= π × r2 = π ×
=π× =
cm2
= area of cross-section × length
= ×7= cm3

cm2
2
5 cm

4cm
6cm
7cm
M
Volume = area of cross-section × length
= × 11 = cm3 11cm

Tip
SA

For part c of Question 1, use the ‘π’ button on your

calculator. Round your answer to 2 decimal places.

Practice
3 Work out the volume of each prism. The area of the cross-section
is given.
a b
6cm
25cm2 7.2cm
18cm2
c
9.5cm
45cm2

175
Original material © Cambridge University Press 2021. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
ISBN_9781108756502.
 We are working with Cambridge Assessment International Education towards endorsement of this title.

14 Volume, surface area and symmetry

4 Copy and complete this table.

Area of cross-section Length of prism Volume of prism
a 8.4 cm2 20 cm cm3

b 24 cm2 cm 156 cm3

c m2 5.7 m 330.6 m3

d 56.85 mm2 mm 3524.7 mm3

E
5 Work out the volume of each prism.
a b c 15cm
4 cm 13cm 6 cm
5cm
10cm 9cm
12cm 8cm 12.5cm
12cm

PL
This is part of Timo’s homework:

Question
Work out the volume of this cylinder.
Answer
V = πr 2h = π × 62 × 8 = π × 36 × 8
= 905 cm3 (3 s.f.)
24cm

6cm

8cm
M
Timo has made a mistake in his solution.
Explain the mistake that Timo has made and work out the correct
answer.
SA

7 Work out the volume of each cylinder. Give your answers correct
to one decimal place (1 d.p.).
a 4cm b 2.8cm c 30mm

15cm 15mm
20cm

176
Original material © Cambridge University Press 2021. This material is not final and is subject to further changes prior to publication.
ISBN_9781108756502.