When Reading Dimensions, Such As 31x18x16, Which Number Is Length, Which Number Is Width, And Which Number Is Height?

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Oddman Profile
Oddman answered
If you're reading such numbers from the data sheet of an item you're going to install somewhere, the data sheet should clearly identify which number goes with which dimension.

If the correspondence is not specified, quite often it does not matter. For calculating the volume of a rectangular prism, or its total area, the order of the numbers is irrelevant. If you need to make a correspondence in order to reduce your anxiety level, you can assign the longest number to length, and assign the other two to width and height in a manner that is satisfying to you. Often, but not always, an object is wider than it is tall--just so it doesn't have a tendency to fall over.

LWH is a common sequence, but it is not universal.
thanked the writer.
Anonymous
Anonymous commented
Actually, I was looking to buy an ice cooler and the website did not specify length, width (or depth), and height...just 31x18x16. I needed to be sure I had enough height for a specific need and didn't know which number was the height.
Oddman
Oddman commented
The ice chest I have is 2 inches taller than it is from front-to-back. It sounds like you also need the inside dimensions, rather than the outside dimensions.

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