I mix up surface area and volume all the time. For a box that is 5 by 4 by 3, which formula gives the space inside?
Volume measures the space inside a solid, and for a cuboid it is simply length × breadth × height. Here the three dimensions are 5 cm, 4 cm and 3 cm. Multiply them in any order: 5 × 4 = 20, then 20 × 3 = 60. So the volume is 60 cubic centimetres, written as 60 cm³. Notice the unit is cubic because you multiplied three lengths together. Surface area is different; it adds up the areas of all six faces and is measured in square units. A quick way to keep them apart: volume is how much water fills the box (cubic units), while surface area is how much wrapping paper covers the outside (square units).
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