Final answer:
To calculate the volume of a prism with a compound cross-section, combine the areas of the two rectangular sections to find the total cross-sectional area and then multiply by the prism's height.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is about calculating the volume of a prism with a composite cross-section made from two rectangles. To calculate the volume, we need to find the cross-sectional area by adding the areas of both rectangles and then multiplying by the height of the prism. Using the formula V = Ah, where A is the total cross-sectional area, and h is the height, we can determine the volume.
For example, if the first rectangle has dimensions a by b and the second rectangle has dimensions c by d, the total area A will be ab + cd. If the height of the prism is h, then the volume will be (ab + cd)h. Make sure to use the same units for all measurements to get the volume in cubic units.