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Maths•SHS Core: Geometry, Mensuration & Bearings

Mensuration of solids

Senior High 6 questions
AI-drafted from platform data — specialist review scheduledBy DigiTransact Mastermind editorial teamLast updated
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What mensuration of solids means

You use formulae to work out the space inside solids and the area of their outer faces. This helps you solve real measurement questions on boxes, tanks, cubes and cylinders.

What you will practise

  • Find the volume of cuboids using length × width × height
  • Calculate volume of cubes using side × side × side
  • Use πr²h to find the volume of cylinders
  • Work out surface area of common solids from given dimensions
  • Choose the correct unit for volume and surface area

Before you start

You should already be comfortable with basic multiplication, squares and simple use of π. You also need to know centimetres, square centimetres and cubic centimetres.

Worked example

One question from this skill's own question bank, shown with its full working.

Question

Find the volume of a cuboid 5 cm by 4 cm by 3 cm.

  • 12 cm³
  • 47 cm³
  • 60 cm³
  • 120 cm³
Answer: 60 cm³

Working: Volume = length × width × height = 5 × 4 × 3 = 60 cm³.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Using the wrong unit for volume. Remember volume is written in cubic units.
  • Forgetting to square the radius in cylinder questions. Use r² before multiplying by height.
  • Mixing up volume and surface area. Volume measures space inside; surface area measures the outside.
  • Dropping a given value like π = 22/7. Use the value stated in the question.

Curriculum and exam alignment

Ghana GES SHS syllabusWASSCE

This usually appears in SHS 1 to SHS 3 geometry and mensuration work, where you learn to measure solid shapes. It supports the kind of calculation and reasoning often tested in WASSCE.

Curriculum notes are a general guide to where this work normally sits. Always check the syllabus your school or examination body is currently using.

Related skills

Other SHS Core: Geometry, Mensuration & Bearings skills in Maths, at the same point in the course.

Other Maths topics

Counting with PicturesPicture Addition & SubtractionEarly NumeracyNumber BasicsSHS Core MathematicsUniversity Mathematics

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Exams that assess mensuration of solids

Senior High work on this skill feeds directly into these exam papers. Each page lists the Maths topics that appear on it.

WASSCEWASSCE practice questionsFree WASSCE practice across the subjects at this stage, with worked answers.GESGES practice questionsFree GES practice across the subjects at this stage, with worked answers.BECEBECE practice questionsListed as a related subject on the BECE practice page.

How this page was produced

This text was drafted with AI assistance from the questions and topics already stored on the platform. A subject-specialist review is scheduled but has not yet been recorded, so we do not claim it here.

Written by
DigiTransact Mastermind editorial team
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Practise mensuration of solids

6 questions with a worked answer after every attempt, and a SmartScore that tracks how close you are to mastery.

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