Final answer:
The volume of a standard 9 x 5-inch loaf pan is approximately 112.5 cubic inches, or 7.6 cups. Alternative pans with a similar volume can be used for baking. Conversion factors are useful to scale recipes based on ingredient ratios.
Step-by-step explanation:
The volume of a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan can be calculated using the formula for the volume of a rectangular prism, which is length × width × height. Assuming the standard loaf pan height of 2.5 inches, the volume would be 9 inches × 5 inches × 2.5 inches = 112.5 cubic inches.
To replace this pan, you could use two 8 x 4-inch pans or one larger 10 x 10-inch pan, adjusting cooking times accordingly. For baking, ensure the volume of the substitute pan(s) is similar to maintain the integrity of the recipe. To measure volume in cooking, it's often easier to use measuring cups to find the equivalent capacity in cups. Here, we use the rough conversion of 1 cubic inch = 0.0683 cups to estimate that a 9 x 5 x 2.5-inch loaf pan would hold approximately 7.6 cups.
Conversions for ingredients such as sugar and eggs are often needed when scaling recipes. These can be done by establishing ratios from the original recipe and multiplying for the desired quantity.
For instance, if a recipe calls for 1 pound of sugar per pound of eggs, and you have 9 cups of pancake mix which requires 4.5 eggs and 2.25 cups of milk, you use that ratio to determine the new measurements.