Cubic Inch Conversion, the Dummies Speak

three-dimensional  figures

An Antisocial Network staffer with a background in education tells us that, when teaching STEM subjects to kids, the KISS principle is essential: Keep It Simple, Stupid. You want to make certain that a) your examples are simple and straightforward and b) you don't contradict yourself or the facts of the topic at hand. Unfortunately, eHow's Axl J. Amistaadt (also known as Debra L. Turner) didn't follow that maxim when she attempted to explain, "How to Convert Inches to Cubic Feet" for Sciencing.com.

Amistaadt opens by attempting to explain that inches have one dimension and cubic feet have three:

"The cubic foot is a non-metric unit for measuring volume. The definition of a cubic foot is the volume of a cube with sides that measure 1 linear foot. As you make the mathematical conversion, remember that 1 cubic foot equals 1,728 cubic inches..."

...which, when you come down to is, doesn't say anything about the difference between an inch – inch¹ – and a cubic foot – foot³. Oops...

No, Axl seems to believe that her task here it to explain how to measure volume in cubic inches and convert the result to cubic feet. According to Amistaadt, you do that by

"Multiply[ing] the length times the width times the height (sometimes referred to as depth) of any three-dimensional figure."

Ummm, sorry, Axl, that only works for rectangular prisms. Try determining the length, width, and height of a sphere, cone, cylinder... idiot. But wait – it gets worse: Axl completes the process by telling her readers to

"Give your cube some dimensions so that you can try this out. Use this example: the three sides of the cube measure 100 linear inches, 30 linear inches and 40 linear inches. To get the figure for total linear inches, multiply 100 x 30 x 40. Your total comes to 120,000 total linear inches."

Ummm, sorry, Axl, you moron: First, that's not a cube: the three sides of a cube have equal length. You've described a rectangular prism. Second, "linear inch" is redundant. And worst of all, when you "multiply 100 [inches] x 30 [inches] x 40 [inches]" the product (not the "total") is 120,000 cubic inches – not "linear inches"!

Perhaps most distressing about this high-bogosity post is the author bio at the bottom, which proudly informs readers that "Axl J. Amistaadt is a DMS 2013 Outstanding Contributor Award recipient." Well, to her reward from Demand Media, Axl can now add a Dumbass of the Day award (and she's also in the running for the Richard Bachmann award for worst fake pen name).

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