A rectangular fuel tank measures 60 inches by 30 inches by 12 inches. How many cubic feet are inside the tank?

A rectangular fuel tank measures 60 inches by 30 inches by 12 inches. How many cubic feet are inside the tank?

• A. 6.25 cubic feet
• B. 12.5 cubic feet
• C. 25.0 cubic feet
• D. 15.0 cubic feet

Answer: (B)

Volume is found by multiplying the three dimensions of a rectangular tank: length × width × height. To keep the math simple, convert the measurements to feet: 60 inches is 5 feet, 30 inches is 2.5 feet, and 12 inches is 1 foot. Multiply: 5 × 2.5 × 1 = 12.5 cubic feet. So the tank holds 12.5 cubic feet. If you work in inches first, you’d get 60 × 30 × 12 = 21,600 cubic inches and then divide by 1,728 cubic inches per cubic foot to arrive at the same 12.5 cubic feet.

Volume is found by multiplying the three dimensions of a rectangular tank: length × width × height. To keep the math simple, convert the measurements to feet: 60 inches is 5 feet, 30 inches is 2.5 feet, and 12 inches is 1 foot. Multiply: 5 × 2.5 × 1 = 12.5 cubic feet. So the tank holds 12.5 cubic feet. If you work in inches first, you’d get 60 × 30 × 12 = 21,600 cubic inches and then divide by 1,728 cubic inches per cubic foot to arrive at the same 12.5 cubic feet.