Grade
5

Same & Different: Prism Problem

Look at the two pictures. What do you notice?

A: A rectangular prism made with unit cubes. It is 2 units long by 4 units wide by 6 units tall. The cubes alternate colors in layers: yellow, orange, yellow, orange, yellow, orange. B: A rectangular prism made with unit cubes. It is 3 units long by 4 units wide by 4 units tall. The cubes alternate colors in layers: yellow, orange, yellow, orange.
  1. How are pictures A and B mathematically the same, and how are they different?
    • A and B are the same because …
    • A and B are different because …
  2. Make a third picture of a rectangular prism. Explain how your picture is the same as pictures A and B, and how it is different.
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Reference for Educators

Sample problems and solutions