How to Calculate the Cubic Area of a Box
Cubic area is a term that usually refers to volume. There is some confusion concerning the use of the term because, mathematically, there is no such thing as cubic area. Area of any surface is always expressed in square units---volume is expressed in cubic units. So a reference to the cubic area of a box usually means the volume of the box.
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Instructions
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1
Learn the formula for finding the volume of a box. The formula for the volume of any rectangular box---one whose bottom and top are rectangular shaped---is V = l x w x h. In the formula, V stands for volume, l for length, w for width and h for height. In other words, to find the volume, multiply the length times the width times the height.
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2
Measure the length, width and height of the box and make a note of the measurements. Be sure that all measurements are in the same units. For example, don't record the length of the box in feet and the width in inches.
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Use the formula from step one and multiply the three measurements together. For example, suppose you recorded the length of the box to be 10 inches, the width 8 inches and the height 6 inches. Multiply 10 x 8 x 6 = 480. This number represents the volume of the box in cubic inches and is written as 480 in³, or 480 cubic inches.
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4
Suppose that you need the volume of a box expressed in cubic feet--this would make sense for very large boxes--but your measurements are recorded in inches. If the measurements multiplied together, as in step four, are in inches, the resulting volume is in cubic inches. To convert that volume to cubic feet, divide it by 1,728. For example, if your measurements multiplied together give a volume of 8,640 cubic inches, that same volume would be 5 cubic feet because 8,640 divided by 1,728 equals 5.
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Tips & Warnings
Understand that the conversion from cubic inches to cubic feet in step four works because one cubic foot contains 1,728 cubic inches.
