A shipping container is in the shape of a right rectangular prism. The container has a length of 12 meters...

1. TRANSLATE the problem information

• Given information:
  • Shape: right rectangular prism (3D box shape)
  • Length = 12 m
  • Width = 2 m
  • Height = 3 m
  • Need to find: volume in cubic meters

• This tells us we need the volume formula for a rectangular prism

2. TRANSLATE into mathematical formula

• Volume of rectangular prism: \(\mathrm{V = length \times width \times height}\)
• Substitute our values: \(\mathrm{V = 12 \times 2 \times 3}\)

3. SIMPLIFY through multiplication

• First multiply length and width: \(\mathrm{12 \times 2 = 24}\)
• Then multiply by height: \(\mathrm{24 \times 3 = 72}\)
• Volume = 72 cubic meters

Answer: C) 72

Why Students Usually Falter on This Problem

Most Common Error Path:

Weak TRANSLATE skill: Students misread what the problem is asking for and confuse volume with other measurements like perimeter.

Instead of using \(\mathrm{V = l \times w \times h}\), they might add the dimensions: \(\mathrm{12 + 2 + 3 = 17}\)

This leads them to select Choice A (17)

Second Most Common Error:

Poor TRANSLATE reasoning: Students recognize they need to multiply but forget that volume requires all three dimensions.

They might calculate using only two dimensions: \(\mathrm{12 \times 3 = 36}\) (forgetting to include width)

This may lead them to select Choice B (36)

The Bottom Line:

This problem tests whether students can distinguish volume from other geometric measurements and remember that volume always involves multiplying all three dimensions together.