Cuboid Challenge

Mathematics can be something of a challenge! We are focusing on the problem of Volume and Capacity. Volume is the amount of space that an object takes up. This is generally measured in cubic centimetres or metres. The capacity of an object, is the amount it can hold. This is is usually measured in grams and kilograms.

The challenge that Year 6 were given was the Cuboid Challenge, which come from a website called Nrich. The challenge was this:

It was first given to a group of students who had finished another Mathematics activity. They had the task of working out the problem and finding out what they needed to to. These students then had the task of teaching the other students what to do. 

The first task was to create a 20cm square out of a piece of paper. Then squares were cut out of the corners. Each student had to estimate the volume of their cube. We also had to estimate if the volume of the cubes would be the same regardless of the size of the squares that were cut out of the corners. We also needed to use the formula of length x width x height = Volume.

Our results were as follows:

We discovered there was a pattern with the numbers... Can you see what the pattern is?