Why the volume formulas work (Cavalieri's principle)
Grade 10 Math Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.
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Sketch, not to scale
The leaning stack with layers 10 cm by 7 cm, the straight-up height 3 cm, and the slanted edge 5 cm.
Luz's stack of paper has 10 by 7 cm layers and stands 3 cm tall. Pushed so it leans, its slanted edge is 5 cm. What is its volume now, in cubic cm?
“Sketch, not to scale:” Milo's tile stack has 8 by 5 cm layers and stands 6 cm tall. Pushed so it leans, its slanted edge is 10 cm. What is its volume now, in cubic cm?
Noah's stack of game boxes has 12 by 3 inches layers and stands 5 inches tall. Pushed so it leans, its slanted edge is 13 inches. What is its volume now, in cubic inches?
Sketch, not to scale: the leaning stack with layers 12 inches by 3 inches, the straight-up height 5 inches, and the slanted edge 13 inches. Sketch, not to scale: the leaning stack with layers 12 inches by 3 inches, the straight-up height 5 inches, and the slanted edge 13 inches. Sketch 13 inches 5 inches 12 inches 3 inches the leaning stack with layers 12 inches by 3 inches, the straight-up height 5 inches, and the slanted edge 13 inches. Not to scale. Pia has two stacks of 20 equal coins. One stands straight; the other leans. How do their volumes compare?
Sketch: a straight stack of 20 coins beside a leaning stack of 20 coins of the same height. Sketch: a straight stack of 20 coins beside a leaning stack of 20 coins of the same height. straight stack of 20 coins leaning stack of 20 coins same height - You can only tell if both slices are the same shape.
- The straight stack is bigger.
- They are equal.
- The leaning stack is bigger.
Tala's two clay towers are 10 cm tall. At every height, one has a square slice of 36 square cm, the other a circle slice of 36 square cm. How do their volumes compare?
Sketch: a square tower and a round tower, both 10 cm tall, with one slice of each drawn at the same height, both labeled 36 square cm. Sketch: a square tower and a round tower, both 10 cm tall, with one slice of each drawn at the same height, both labeled 36 square cm. 10 cm 36 square cm 36 square cm 10 cm - They are equal.
- You can't compare a square and a circle.
- The square tower is bigger.
- The round tower is bigger because it leans out.
Zee stacks 8 equal slices of bread straight, and 8 more that slide sideways. How do the two stacks' volumes compare?
Sketch: a straight stack of 8 slices of bread beside a stack of 8 slid sideways, the same height. Sketch: a straight stack of 8 slices of bread beside a stack of 8 slid sideways, the same height. 8 slices 8 slices - The straight stack is bigger.
- The sliding stack is bigger.
- You can only tell if both stacks have the same outline.
- They are equal.
The cube with edges 24 cm, split into three equal pyramids that share one corner. Ari cuts a foam cube with 24 cm edges into 3 equal pyramids, each with a cube face as its base. What is each pyramid's volume, in cubic cm?
split into three equal pyramids that share one corner. Bo cuts a foam cube with 15 cm edges into 3 equal pyramids, each with a cube face as its base. What is each pyramid's volume, in cubic cm?
Sketch: the cube with edges 15 cm, split into three equal pyramids that share one corner. Sketch: the cube with edges 15 cm, split into three equal pyramids that share one corner. 15 cm 15 cm 15 cm Esme cuts a foam cube with 18 cm edges into 3 equal pyramids, each with a cube face as its base. What is each pyramid's volume, in cubic cm?
Sketch: the cube with edges 18 cm, split into three equal pyramids that share one corner. Sketch: the cube with edges 18 cm, split into three equal pyramids that share one corner. 18 cm 18 cm 18 cm split into three equal pyramids that share one corner Jun cuts a foam cube with 21 cm edges into 3 equal pyramids, each with a cube face as its base. What is each pyramid's volume, in cubic cm?
Sketch: the cube with edges 21 cm, split into three equal pyramids that share one corner. Sketch: the cube with edges 21 cm, split into three equal pyramids that share one corner. 21 cm 21 cm 21 cm cube The cube is split into three equal pyramids that share one corner. Not to scale.