volume_mute
What Does the Variable B Represent?
publish date: 2026/05/18 12:18:49.102289 UTC
volume_mute
The volume formulas for prisms and pyramids both contain the variable \(B\):
\[V = Bh \quad \text{(prism)} \qquad V = \frac{1}{3}Bh \quad \text{(pyramid)}\]
What does \(B\) represent in these formulas?
Correct Answer
The area of the base of the figure
Explanation
In the volume formulas \(V = Bh\) and \(V = \frac{1}{3}Bh\), the variable \(B\) represents the area of the base of the figure. Before using either formula, the area of the base must be calculated first — for example, the area of a triangle, rectangle, or square that forms the base of the prism or pyramid.
Reference
Mathematics for college students