What is the volume of a rectangular prism?

The volume of a rectangular prism is calculated using the formula that multiplies its three dimensions: length, width, and height. This means to find the volume, you take the length of the prism and multiply it by its width, then multiply that result by the height. The resulting value represents the space enclosed within the prism.

This method of calculation is rooted in geometric principles, as each dimension contributes equally to the overall volume by representing how much space the prism occupies in three-dimensional space. When you multiply these dimensions together, you effectively count how many unit cubes fit inside the prism, which is the definition of volume.

In contrast to the other options, adding the dimensions would not yield a volume and would simply result in a linear measurement. Multiplying the dimensions by two, as suggested in one choice, doesn't relate to how volume is calculated and would incorrectly inflate the measurement. Dividing the dimensions, as suggested in another choice, would not provide a meaningful measurement of space and would actually yield a distorted value. Thus, the formula for volume, "length times width times height," is the correct approach for determining the volume of a rectangular prism.