To determine the capacity of an unknown dishwasher tank, what formula should be utilized?

The correct choice is valid because the formula for determining the capacity of a tank is based on multiplying the three dimensions in a way that accounts for the actual usable space of the tank. In this case, utilizing the dimensions of length, width, and depth to overflow gives an accurate volume measurement.

The division by 231 is specifically used to convert cubic inches into gallons, which is a common requirement when measuring liquid capacities. By calculating the volume in cubic inches (length times width times depth) and then converting it to gallons, you ensure that the final capacity measurement is practical for culinary purposes where gallons are often the standard unit of measure.

Using length times width times height does not appropriately take into account the specific design of a dishwasher tank that may not be symmetrical or have uniform dimensions at all points; focusing instead on depth to overflow gives a more relevant measure of capacity. Other formulas, such as averaging dimensions or using breadth squared, do not produce a meaningful measure of volume in this context.