Scale Factors and

Volume
Discovering the effect on the volume of a prism
when its dimensions are multiplied by a scale
factor
Find the volume of each prism

1. 2.

15cm

24m
9cm
14m 38cm
11m

V  1,848m 3
V  5,130cm 3
Objective

• Given a prism with its

dimensions multiplied by
a scale factor, you will
find the NEW volume
without using a formula.
Purpose
• Architects need to know the effect of scale
factors on volume when they make scale
models of buildings.
• Gardeners need to know the effect of scale
factors on volume when doubling the
dimensions of a flowerbed in order to
purchase the correct amount of soil.
• Knowing the effect of scale factors on
volume is a 7th grade standard.
• There is one item on the CAHSEE related to
scale factors and volume.
Suppose the length, width, and
height of this container were
doubled.

We call this
“multiplying by
a scale factor
of 2.”
Suppose the length, width, and
height of this container were tripled.

We call this
“multiplying by
a scale factor
of 3.”
What is a scale factor?

• In your own words, give a

description of a scale
factor.
• Share your description
with your partner.
How many cubes do you believe would
fill this container if the length, width,
and height were doubled?
Let’s Explore…
We know that the volume of a 40 foot
container is 2,752 ft3. What do you
suppose would happen to the volume if we
multiplied the length, width and height by
a scale factor of 2? Or by a scale factor of
3? Or by a scale factor of 4?
First, let’s make a table

Length Width Height Volume Volume

compared to
original
Original 40 8 8.6 2,752 ft3 SAME

x2

x3

x4

x5
We will multiply our original dimensions by
a scale factor of 2 and complete our table.

h 2
l 2
w 2

l  40
l  2  40  2  80
Let’s complete our table

Length Width Height Volume Volume

compared to
original
Original 40 8 8.6 2,752 ft3 SAME

x2
80
x3

x4

x5
We will multiply our original dimensions by
a scale factor of 2 and complete our table.

h 2
l 2
w 2

w8
w  2  8  2  16
Let’s complete our table

Length Width Height Volume Volume

compared to
original
Original 40 8 8.6 2,752 ft3 SAME

x2 80 16
x3

x4

x5
We will multiply our original dimensions
by a scale factor of 2 and complete our
table.

h 2
l 2
w 2

h  8.6
h  2  8.6  2  17.2
Let’s complete our table

Length Width Height Volume Volume

compared to
original
Original 40 8 8.6 2,752 ft3 SAME

x2 80 16
17.2
x3

x4

x5
Let’s complete our table

Length Width Height Volume Volume

compared to
original
Original 40 8 8.6 2,752 ft3 SAME

x2 80 16 17.2
22,016
x3 Find the volume
V=(80)(16)(17.2)
x4 V=22,016

x5
 Let’s complete our table

Length Width Height Volume Volume

compared to
original
Original 40 8 8.6 2,752 ft3 SAME

x2 80 16 17.2 22,016 ft3 23 or 8 times

Maybe larger
you should22,016 It2,752
got 
x3 divide. bigger!
3
What 8 or 2
x4 happened??

x5
Now, we will multiply our original
dimensions by a scale factor of 3 and
complete our table.

h3
l 3

w 3

l  40
l  3  40
40  3  120
Let’s complete our table

Length Width Height Volume Volume

compared to
original
Original 40 8 8.6 2,752 ft3 SAME

x2 80 16 17.2 22,016 ft3 23 or 8 times

larger

x3
120
x4

x5
Now, we will multiply our original
dimensions by a scale factor of 3 and
complete our table.

h3
l 3

w 3

w8
w  3  8  3  24
Let’s complete our table

Length Width Height Volume Volume

compared to
original
Original 40 8 8.6 2,752 ft3 SAME

x2 80 16 17.2 22,016 ft3 23 or 8 times

larger

x3 120 24
x4

x5
Now, we will multiply our original
dimensions by a scale factor of 3 and
complete our table.

h3
l 3

w 3

h  8.6
h  3  8.6  3  25.8
Let’s complete our table

Length Width Height Volume Volume

compared to
original
Original 40 8 8.6 2,752 ft3 SAME

x2 80 16 17.2 22,016 ft3 23 or 8 times

larger

x3 120 24 25.8
x4

x5
Let’s complete our table

Length Width Height Volume Volume

compared to
original
Original 40 8 8.6 2,752 ft3 SAME

x2 80 16 17.2 22,016 ft3 23 or 8 times

larger

x3 120 24 25.8
74,304
x4 Find the volume
V=(120)(24)(25.8)
x5 V=74,304
 Let’s complete our table

Length Width Height Volume Volume

compared to
original
Original 40 8 8.6 2,752 ft3 SAME

x2 80 16 17.2 22,016 ft3 23 or 8 times

Need larger
help? Didn’t I
x3 120 24 25.8 74,304 fttell
3
33 or 27 times
you
already? larger
x4 74,304  2,752 
What 3
x5 27 or 3
happened??
 Let’s complete our table

Length Width
Do Height
you see a Volume Volume
pattern? Try compared to
completing original
the next row
Original 40 on8your own.
8.6 2,752 ft3 SAME

x2 80 16 17.2 22,016 ft3 23 or 8 times

larger

x3 120 24 25.8 74,304 ft3 33 or 27 times

larger

x4

x5
 Let’s complete our table

What canyou
Maybe
Length Width
you
shouldHeight Volume Volume
conclude?
complete the compared to
last row. original
Original 40 8 8.6 2,752 ft3 SAME

x2 80 16 17.2 22,016 ft3 23 or 8 times

larger

x3 120 24 25.8 74,304 ft3 33 or 27 times

larger

x4 160 32 34.4 176,128 ft3 43 or 64 times

larger

x5
 Let’s complete our table

Length Last clue.

Width Height Volume Volume
What do you compared to
notice about original
these two
Original 40 8
columns?8.6 2,752 ft3 SAME

x2 80 16 17.2 22,016 ft3 23 or 8 times

larger

x3 120 24 25.8 74,304 ft3 33 or 27 times

larger

x4 160 32 34.4 176,128 ft3 43 or 64 times

larger

x5 200 40 43 344,000 ft3 53 or 125 times

larger
True or False?

• Whenever the length, width,

and height are multiplied by a
scale factor of 2, the original
volume is multiplied by 23?

or

True False
True or False?

• Whenever the length, width,

and height are multiplied by a
scale factor of 3, the original
volume is multiplied by 34?

or

True False
True or False?

• Whenever the length, width,

and height are multiplied by a
scale factor of 23, the original
volume is multiplied by 232?

or

True False
True or False?

• Whenever the length, width,

and height are multiplied by a
scale factor of 54, the original
volume is multiplied by 543?

or

True False
True or False?

• Whenever the length, width,

and height are multiplied by a
scale factor of x, the original
volume is multiplied by x 3?

or

True False
Let’s take a look at triangular
prisms…
Will the same pattern work with
triangular prisms?

5 ft 5 ft
4 ft 14 ft

6 ft
First, let’s make a table

Base of Height Height Volume Volume

the of the of the compared to
triangle triangle prism original
Original 6 4 14 168 ft3 SAME

x2

x3

x4

x5
We will multiply our original dimensions
by a scale factor of 2 and complete our table.

5 ft 5 ft
2 4 ft 14 ft
2
6 ft

2
Let’s complete our table

Base of Height Height Volume Volume

the of the of the compared to
triangle triangle prism original
Original 6 4 14 168 ft3 SAME

x2
12 8 28
x3

x4

x5
Let’s complete our table

Base of Height Height Volume Volume

the of the of the compared to
triangle triangle prism original
Original 6 4 14 168 ft3 SAME

x2 12 8 28
1,344
x3
Find the volume
x4
Area of the base = ½(12)(8)
Area of the base = 48
V=(48)(28)
x5 V=1,344
 Let’s complete our table

Base of Height Height Volume Volume

the of the of the compared to
triangle triangle prism original
Original 6 4 14 168 ft3 SAME

x2 12 8 28 1,344 ft3 23 or 8 times

Make sure larger
you check Don’t ask
x3 your work!
1,344  168
me! 
What
x4 8 or
happened?? 23

x5
We will multiply our original dimensions by a
scale factor of 3 and complete our table.

5 ft 5 ft
3 4 ft 14 ft
3
6 ft

3
 Let’s complete our table

Base of Height Height Volume Volume

the of the of the compared to
triangle triangle prism original
Original 6 4 14 168 ft3 SAME

x2 12 8 28 1,344 ft3 23 or 8 times

larger

x3
18 12 42
x4

x5
 Let’s complete our table

Base of Height Height Volume Volume

the of the of the compared to
triangle triangle prism original
Original 6 4 14 168 ft3 SAME

x2 12 8 28 1,344 ft3 23 or 8 times

larger

x3 18 12 42
4,536
Find the volume
x4
Area of the base = ½(18)(12)
Area of the base = 108
x5 V=(108)(42)
V=4,536
 Let’s complete our table

Base of Height Height Volume Volume

the of the of the compared to
triangle triangle prism original
Original 6 4 14 168 ft3 SAME

x2 12 8 28 1,344 ft3 23 or 8 times

larger
Sorry, I can’t
x3 18 12 42 ft3 you33any
4,536give or 27 times
more help.larger

x4
4,536  168 
What
x5 27 or
happened?? 33
 Let’s complete our table
By George, I
Base ofthink you’veHeight
Height Volume Volume
the gotofit!the
Keepof the compared to
going! prism
triangle triangle original
Original 6 4 14 168 ft3 SAME

x2 12 8 28 1,344 ft3 23 or 8 times

larger

x3 18 12 42 4,536 ft3 33 or 27 times

larger

x4

x5
 Let’s complete our table
Go ahead and
Basecomplete
of Heightthe Height Volume Volume
the lastofrow.
the of the compared to
triangle triangle prism original
Original 6 4 14 168 ft3 SAME

x2 12 8 28 1,344 ft3 23 or 8 times

larger

x3 18 12 42 4,536 ft3 33 or 27 times

larger

x4 24 16 56 10,752 ft3 43 or 64 times

larger

x5
 Let’s complete our table
Did it work?
Base ofCanHeight
we say Height Volume Volume
the that ofthis
the of the compared to
triangle triangle
pattern is true prism original
Original 6 for all prisms?
4 14 168 ft3 SAME

x2 12 8 28 1,344 ft3 23 or 8 times

larger

x3 18 12 42 4,536 ft3 33 or 27 times

larger

x4 24 16 56 10,752 ft3 43 or 64 times

larger

x5 30 20 70 21,000 ft3 53 or 125 times

larger
True or False?

• The volume of a triangular prism

is 100m3. If the dimensions are
multiplied by a scale factor of 2,
the new volume will be 800m3.

or

True False
True or False?

• The volume of a triangular prism

is 310 ft3. If the dimensions are
multiplied by a scale factor of 2,
the new volume will be 620 ft3.

or

True False
True or False?

• The volume of a rectangular prism

is 10 km3. If the dimensions are
multiplied by a scale factor of 4,
the new volume will be 270 km3.

or

True False
True or False?

• The volume of a rectangular prism is

21 yd3. If the dimensions are
multiplied by a scale factor of 3, the
new volume will be 567 yd3.

or

True False
True or False?

• The volume of a rectangular prism is

50 m3. If the dimensions are
multiplied by a scale factor of x, the
new volume will be 50x3 m3.

or

True False
 On your own…

• Suppose the volume of a rectangular prism is 40 ft3.

Find the new volume, if the dimensions are
1,080 ft3 multiplied by a scale factor of 3.
• Suppose the dimensions of a triangular prism are
multiplied by a scale factor of 2 and the NEW
54 cm3 volume is 432 cm3, what was the original volume?
• Suppose the original volume of a triangular prism is
120 m3 and the NEW volume is 3,240 m3, what scale
3 factor were the dimensions multiplied by?
Let’s wrap it up!

Give a brief explanation of what

would happen to the volume of the
following prism if the dimensions
were multiplied by a scale factor.

19ft