What is the formula for the volume of a prism or cylinder?

The volume of a prism or a cylinder is determined by the amount of space enclosed within it, which can be calculated using a specific formula. The correct answer highlights that the volume is found by multiplying the area of the base (which can be any shaped face) by the height of the prism or cylinder.

To understand this better, consider that the base area represents the two-dimensional surface that the prism extends into the third dimension. By multiplying this area by the height, you are effectively stacking multiple layers of the base over the height of the prism. This is akin to summing up all those base areas across the entire height of the figure, which gives you the total volume.

The other responses do not accurately describe the relationship needed to calculate the volume in this context. For instance, while length times width times height may apply to a rectangular prism, it does not universally apply to all prisms or cylinders where the base can take on different shapes. Perimeter times height does not reflect the area calculation needed for the base, and base times height lacks the necessary specification that the base area must be determined first before height can be applied.