Question

Tim has a rectangular prism with a length of 10 centimeters, a width of 2 centimeters, and an unknown height. he needs to build another rectangular prism with a length of 5 centimeters and the same height as the original prism. the volume of the two prisms will be the same. find the width, in centimeters, of the new prism.

Answer 1

The volume of the original prism is given by:
V1 = (10) * (2) * (h)
rewriting:
V1 = 20h
Where,
h: height
The volume of the second prism is given by:
V2 = (5) * (w) * (h)
We know that the height is the same.
As the volume is the same then:
(5) * (w) * (h) = 20h
Clearing w we have:
w = (20/5) = 4 cm
Answer:
The width, in centimeters, of the new prism is:
w = 4cm