Prism - GCSE Maths Definition
Reviewed by: Dan Finlay
Published
Prism is a general term referring to any three-dimensional shape that has a constant cross-section. A triangular prism would have a cross-section in the shape of a triangle (of course!). The naming of other prisms follows accordingly, but there are a few special cases - cubes have a constant cross-section of a square, and the cross-section of a cuboid could be a square or a rectangle. Cylinders have a constant cross-section of a circle. Some common everyday objects are prisms - cereal boxes, Toblerone packets. Pringles tubes.
In GCSE Mathematics you may be required to find the volume, surface area, or cross-sectional area of prisms. In general, the volume of a prism will be the product of its cross-sectional area and its length.
Examiner-written GCSE Maths revision resources that improve your grades 2x
- Written by expert teachers and examiners
- Aligned to exam specifications
- Everything you need to know, and nothing you don’t
Share this article
written revision resources that improve your