Name: _______________________________ Block: _______
Homework: Changing the Dimensions of a Rectangular Prism
The dimensions of a rectangular prism are shown.
1. Find the volume and surface area.
16 cm
24 cm
12 cm
2. WITHOUT USING A CALCULATOR, tell me what the new volume will be if I double the
width of the prism above. What can you tell me about the surface area?
3. WITHOUT USING A CALCULATOR, tell me what the new volume will be if I triple the
height of the prism above. What can you tell me about the surface area?
4. WITHOUT USING A CALCULATOR, tell me what the new volume will be if I cut the
length of the prism above in half. What can you tell me about the surface area?
5. A new prism is created by changing only one of the dimensions on the prism above. If the
volume of the new prism is 1/4 the volume of the original prism, which of the figures below
could represent the dimensions of the new prism?
Hint: There may be more than one.
4 cm
6 cm
16 cm
16 cm
3 cm
6 cm
12 cm
3 cm
24 cm
4 cm
24 cm
4 cm
3 cm
24 cm
12 cm
Name: _______________________________ Block: _______
Practical Problems: Answer each question. Show ALL of your work.
6. Sarah wants to cover her jewelry box in decorative fabrics. If the box is a rectangular prism
that is 14 inches long, 6 inches wide, and 2 inches high, how much fabric will she need to
completely cover it?
7. Sarah has a second jewelry box. The length of her second jewelry box is ½ the length of her
first jewelry box. Will she need more or less fabric to cover the box? In a complete
sentence, explain how you know.
8. Chad also built a pool in his back yard. The length of his pool is 20 feet and the width of his
pool is 10 feet. Assume Chad’s entire pool is the same depth.
a. If the pool holds 900 cubic feet of water, how deep is Chad’s pool?
b. Chad wants to double the total volume of his pool. List three ways he can accomplish
this by changing the dimensions.