One of Mr. Newman’s architecture students states that prisms and pyramids are different shapes, but the volume of a pyramid is h
alf the volume of a prism with the same dimensions. Another student argues that the volume of a pyramid is one-third the volume of a prism with the same dimensions. Who is correct? Explain.
The second student is correct. The volume of a prism is bh, but the volume of a pyramid is (1/3)bh. The volume of a pyramid will be one-third the volume of a prism if they have the same base area and height.
<u>Sample response: The second student is correct. The volume of a prism is bh, but the volume of a pyramid is (1/3)bh. The volume of a pyramid will be one-third the volume of a prism if they have the same base area and height.</u>