Cuboid Volume Calculation: 8cm Height, 5cm Length, Missing Width

Q: What if I assume the width equals the length?

Never assume missing dimensions! The problem doesn't state that width equals length (5 cm). Without this information explicitly given, you cannot calculate the volume.

Q: Can I use a different formula if one dimension is missing?

No, there's only one formula for cuboid volume: $ V = \text{length} \times \text{width} \times \text{height} $. All three dimensions are absolutely required.

Q: What would happen if I tried to calculate anyway?

You'd get an incomplete expression like V = 5 × ? × 8. Since you can't multiply by an unknown value, no numerical answer is possible.

Q: How many dimensions do I need for different shapes?

Different shapes need different amounts of information:Rectangle: length and width (2D)Cuboid: length, width, and height (3D)Cube: just one side length (3D)

Q: What should I do when dimensions are missing?

Always identify what's missing first. List the given information, then check what the formula requires. If anything is missing, the calculation cannot be completed.

Volume Formula with Missing Dimensions

Given an cuboid whose height is equal to 8 cm and its length is equal to 5 cm

Is it possible to calculate the volume of the cuboid?

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:00 Calculate the volume of the box if possible

00:03 We will use the formula for calculating box volume

00:07 Height times length times width

00:12 We'll substitute appropriate values and solve to find the volume

00:22 It seems we don't have enough data to calculate the box volume

00:27 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

Given an cuboid whose height is equal to 8 cm and its length is equal to 5 cm

Is it possible to calculate the volume of the cuboid?

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we recognize that calculating the volume of a cuboid requires three dimensions: length, width, and height.

Step 1: Identify the given dimensions—height is 8 cm, and length is 5 cm.
Step 2: Note that the width of the cuboid is not provided.
Step 3: Recall the volume formula for a cuboid: $V = \text{length} \times \text{width} \times \text{height}$ .
Step 4: Attempt to apply the formula: Without the width, the formula is incomplete.

Given the absence of the width, it is impossible to perform the calculation for the volume. All three dimensions must be known to determine the volume of a cuboid.

Therefore, the solution to the problem is No.

Final Answer

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Volume requires all three dimensions: length, width, and height
Formula: $V = \text{length} \times \text{width} \times \text{height}$ needs complete information
Check: Count given dimensions: 8 cm height + 5 cm length = only 2 of 3 needed ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Assuming you can calculate volume with incomplete information
Don't try to calculate volume with just length (5 cm) and height (8 cm) = impossible result! Missing the width means the formula V = l × w × h cannot be completed. Always verify that all three dimensions are provided before attempting volume calculations.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Calculate the volume of the rectangular prism below using the data provided.

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

What if I assume the width equals the length?

Never assume missing dimensions! The problem doesn't state that width equals length (5 cm). Without this information explicitly given, you cannot calculate the volume.

Can I use a different formula if one dimension is missing?

No, there's only one formula for cuboid volume: $V = \text{length} \times \text{width} \times \text{height}$ . All three dimensions are absolutely required.

What would happen if I tried to calculate anyway?

You'd get an incomplete expression like V = 5 × ? × 8. Since you can't multiply by an unknown value, no numerical answer is possible.

How many dimensions do I need for different shapes?

Different shapes need different amounts of information:

Rectangle: length and width (2D)
Cuboid: length, width, and height (3D)
Cube: just one side length (3D)

What should I do when dimensions are missing?

Always identify what's missing first. List the given information, then check what the formula requires. If anything is missing, the calculation cannot be completed.

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