A rectangular shaped fuel tank measures 2 feet in width, 3 feet in length, and 1' 8" in depth. How many gallons will it hold?

A rectangular shaped fuel tank measures 2 feet in width, 3 feet in length, and 1' 8" in depth. How many gallons will it hold?

• A. 60
• B. 90
• C. 75
• D. 100

Answer: (C)

Think about how to find the capacity of a rectangular tank: its volume is length × width × depth, and then you convert that volume from cubic feet to gallons. Convert all dimensions to feet. Depth 1' 8" equals 1 + 8/12 = 1 + 2/3 = 5/3 feet (about 1.6667 ft). Volume = 3 ft × 2 ft × 5/3 ft = 10 cubic feet. Convert to gallons: 1 cubic foot holds about 7.48 gallons. So 10 cubic feet × 7.48 ≈ 74.8 gallons, i.e., about 75 gallons. The tank holds roughly 75 gallons.

Think about how to find the capacity of a rectangular tank: its volume is length × width × depth, and then you convert that volume from cubic feet to gallons.

Convert all dimensions to feet. Depth 1' 8" equals 1 + 8/12 = 1 + 2/3 = 5/3 feet (about 1.6667 ft). Volume = 3 ft × 2 ft × 5/3 ft = 10 cubic feet.

Convert to gallons: 1 cubic foot holds about 7.48 gallons. So 10 cubic feet × 7.48 ≈ 74.8 gallons, i.e., about 75 gallons.

The tank holds roughly 75 gallons.