Calculating the Volume of Prisms

area of cross-section × length

Calculating the Calculating the
Volume of a Cube Volume of a Cuboid

4cm
cross-section 4cm
cross-section
length
length 12cm
4cm 8cm
4cm

area of cross-section × length area of cross-section × length

1. Calculate the area of the cross-section. 1. Calculate the area of the cross-section.
Area of cross-section = 4 × 4 = 16cm2 Area of cross-section = 8 × 4 = 32cm2
2. Multiply the area of the cross-section by its length. 2. Multiply the area of the cross-section by its length.
16 × 4 = 64cm3 32 × 12 = 384cm3

Volume = 64cm3 Volume = 384cm3

Calculating the Volume Calculating the Volume

of a Trapezoidal Prism of a Triangular Prism
cross-section

cross-section 6cm
length length
4cm
10cm 4cm
10cm
14cm
6cm
area of cross-section × length area of cross-section × length
1. Calculate the area of the cross-section. 1. Calculate the area of the cross-section.
Area of cross-section = 6 + 14 × 4 = 40cm2 Area of cross-section = ½ × 6 × 4 = 12cm2
2
2. Multiply the area of the cross-section by its length. 2. Multiply the area of the cross-section by its length.
40 × 10 = 400cm3 12 × 10 = 120cm3

Volume = 400cm3 Volume = 120cm3

Area Formulae
Square:
l×w

Rectangle:
l×w

Parallelogram:
b×h

Triangle:
1
(b × h ) or b×h
2 2

Trapezium:
1
2
(a + b) × h

Circle:
πr 2
 Calculating the Area of
an Isosceles Trapezium
Maths Toolbox
We can use what we know about calculating the area of a rectangle and of a
triangle to help us to find the area of an isosceles trapezium.

3cm

2cm

6cm

Calculating the Area of an Isosceles Trapezium

3cm

2cm 2cm

1.5cm 1.5cm
3cm

2cm 2cm 2cm

1.5cm 1.5cm
1 1
(2 × 1.5) 3×2=6 (2 × 1.5)
2 2
Area = 1.5cm2 Area = 6cm2 Area = 1.5cm2

1.5 + 6 + 1.5 = 9cm2

The area of the trapezium is 9cm2.
 Calculating the Area of
a Triangle
Maths Toolbox
To calculate the area of a triangle, you can use what you know about
calculating the area of a rectangle. You will need to multiply the base by its
perpendicular height and then divide the answer by 2.

Formula:
b×h 1
or (b × h)
2 2

How to Calculate the Area of a Triangle

6cm

12cm

b × h or 1 (b × h)
2 2
6 × 12
= 36cm2
2
The area of the triangle is 36cm2.
 Calculating the Area of
a Trapezium Using the
Formula
Maths Toolbox
You can calculate the area of any trapezium by using the formula:
1
(a + b) × h
2
a

How to Calculate the Area of a Trapezium

4cm

3cm

10cm

1
(a + b) × h
2
1
(4 + 10) × 3 = 21cm2
2
The area of the trapezium is 21cm2.
 Calculating the Area of
a Square
Maths Toolbox
To calculate the area of a square, you will need to multiply the length by its
width.

length
Formula:
l×w width

How to Calculate the Area of a Square

8cm

8cm

l×w
8 × 8 = 64cm2
The area of the square is 64cm2.
 Calculating the Area of
a Rectangle
Maths Toolbox
To calculate the area of a rectangle, you will need to multiply the length by
its width.

length
Formula:
l×w width

How to Calculate the Area of a Rectangle

12cm

4cm

l×w
12 × 4 = 48cm2
The area of the rectangle is 48cm2.
 Calculating the Area of
a Parallelogram
Maths Toolbox
To calculate the area of a parallelogram, you can use what you know about
calculating the area of a rectangle.

Formula:
b×h

How to Calculate the Area of a Parallelogram

11cm

5cm

b×h
11 × 5 = 55cm2
The area of the parallelogram is 55cm2.
 Calculating the Area of a
Compound Shape
Compound Shape
Maths Toolbox
A compound shape is a shape 4cm
that is made up of two or more
simple shapes. 3cm
To calculate the area of a 5cm
compound shape, we firstly need
to divide it up into its simple
shapes and find their areas.
10cm
We then add these together to
find the whole area.

1
4cm
Divide the compound shape into
its simple shapes.
3cm
5cm Label one of the shapes ‘A’ and
A
the other ‘B’.
B
10cm
2
4cm
You may have to find some
missing measurements.
3cm
5cm A 6cm
B 2cm
10cm

Shape A = 5 × 4 = 20cm2
Shape B = 6 × 2 = 12cm2
20 + 12 = 32cm2
The area of the compound shape is 32cm2
 Calculating the Area of a
Circle
Maths Toolbox
You can calculate the area of any circle by using the formula:

πr 2

How to Calculate the Area of a Circle

m
3c

πr 2
π × 32 = 28.3cm2 (1d.p.)
The area of the circle is 28.3cm2 to 1 decimal place.