Why do we measure perimeter in ft, area in ft^2 (or feet squared), and volume in ft^3 (or feet cubed)? What does each mean within the strand of measurement?

distance is in linear terms (foot), area is in linear terms squared, and volume is in linear cubed. They mean what they indicate.

which state or states receive more than 3 feet of rainfall annually

The measurement of perimeter, area, and volume in different units is due to the fact that they represent different physical quantities or dimensions.

Perimeter is a measure of the length of the boundary or the outline of a two-dimensional shape, such as a square or a circle. It is usually measured in linear units, such as feet, because it represents the total length of the sides of the shape. For example, if you have a square with sides of 3 feet each, then the perimeter would be 4 times 3, which is 12 feet.

Area, on the other hand, is a measure of the amount of surface enclosed by a two-dimensional shape. It is measured in square units, such as square feet, because it represents the amount of space within the shape. To find the area of a square, you multiply the length of one side by itself. For example, if you have a square with sides of 3 feet each, then the area would be 3 times 3, which is 9 square feet.

Volume, however, represents the amount of space occupied by a three-dimensional object, such as a cube or a sphere. It is measured in cubic units, such as cubic feet, because it represents the total amount of space within the object. To find the volume of a cube, you multiply the length of one side by itself, and then multiply it by a third side. For example, if you have a cube with sides of 3 feet each, then the volume would be 3 times 3 times 3, which is 27 cubic feet.

In summary, perimeter measures the length of a two-dimensional shape, area measures the amount of surface enclosed by a shape, and volume measures the amount of space occupied by a three-dimensional object. The different units for each measurement reflect the respective dimensions being measured.