Final answer:
To calculate the water needed to fill her rectangular prism fish tank, Melody should use the volume formula, which is the product of the tank's length, width, and height.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order to determine how much water Melody will need to fill her fish tank, which is in the shape of a rectangular prism, she should use the formula for volume. The volume formula will calculate the amount of space within her tank that can be filled with water. To find the volume (V) of a rectangular prism, the formula is V = length × width × height. It is important to remember to use consistent units when measuring the dimensions to ensure the volume is accurate.
As an example, if Melody's tank measures 2 meters in length, 1 meter in width, and 1 meter in height, she would calculate the volume by multiplying these dimensions: V = 2m × 1m × 1m = 2 cubic meters (m³).
Therefore, she would need 2 cubic meters of water to fill the tank.