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Estimating and Measuring Volume

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Estimating and Measuring Volume

Estimate volume using familiar benchmarks, select suitable units and tools, and calculate the volume of rectangular prisms. Show how you know your answers are reasonable.

Choose units and tools

Select the best answer for each question. For the tools question, select the best option.

1.Which unit is most suitable for stating the volume of a small lunch container?

cubic centimetres (cm³)
centimetres (cm)
kilograms (kg)
kilometres (km)

2.A student estimates a storage tub's volume as 900 cm³. A calculation gives 850 cm³. How should the estimate be judged?

It is reasonably close to the calculated volume.
It is far too small to be useful.
It is far too large to be useful.
The estimate cannot be compared with a volume.

3.A rectangular prism is 9 cm long, 4 cm wide and 3 cm high. What is its volume?

108 cm³
16 cm³
72 cm³
36 cm³

4.Which option lists tools that could help you find the capacity of a drink bottle?

A measuring jug marked in millilitres, a measuring cylinder marked in millilitres, and a ruler to measure dimensions and estimate volume
Kitchen scales that measure mass in grams

Estimate and calculate

Include units in your answers. Show working where it helps explain your thinking.

5.A rectangular parcel is about 25 cm long, 12 cm wide and 8 cm high. Estimate its volume by rounding the dimensions to convenient numbers, then state your estimate in cubic centimetres.

6.A rectangular container has a volume of 480 cm³. How many cubes of volume 1 cm³ would exactly fill it?

7.A box measures 6 cm by 4 cm by 3 cm. Calculate its volume. Would 30 cubes, each with a volume of 1 cm³, fill the box? Explain briefly.

8.For a project, you need to describe how much water a household bath can hold. Which unit would be suitable, and why?

Challenge and reflection

Use the drawing space to show your design. Label all three dimensions and include your calculation.

9.Design a rectangular prism with a volume of exactly 72 cm³ using whole-number dimensions. Draw and label one possible prism, then write the multiplication that checks its volume.

10.A box measures 5 cm × 4 cm × 2.5 cm. Find its volume in cm³, then convert the answer to litres. Use 1,000 cm³ = 1 L.

11.Name one strategy you can use to check whether a calculated volume is reasonable. Give a brief example of how the strategy works.