An illustration showing two cubes joined on both sides of a cuboid. The sides of the cube are 5 centimeters. The length of the cuboid is 10 centimeters and height is 12 centimeters.

answer: _____cm^3

The volume of the two cubes can be calculated by using the formula V = s^3 where s is the length of the side of the cube.

Volume of one cube = 5^3 = 125 cm^3

Since there are two cubes, the total volume for both cubes is:
2 * 125 = 250 cm^3

Now, the volume of the cuboid can be calculated using the formula V = l*w*h where l is the length, w is the width, and h is the height of the cuboid.

Volume of the cuboid = 10 * 5 * 12 = 600 cm^3

The total volume when the two cubes are joined on both sides of the cuboid is:
250 + 600 = 850 cm^3

Therefore, the total volume is 850 cm^3.