Question

A carpenter must cut a piece of wood so that it fits tightly into position. The carpenter cuts 3/16 of an inch off the wood so that it measures 4 1/2 inches. What was the size of the original piece of wood?

Answer 1

The size of the original piece of the wood will be = 24 inches.

Explanation:

Let the original sizeof the wood be = x inches.

Now, according to the question the carpenter cuts 3/16 of an inch off the wood so that it measures 4 1/2 inches that is
`(9)/(2)`inches.

Thus,
`(3)/(16)x=(9)/(2)`

⇒
`x=(9)/(2){*}(16)/(3)`

⇒
`x=24`inches

Thus, the size of the original piece of the wood will be = 24 inches.

Answer 2

Original length of the wood is 24 inches.

Explanation:

Let the original length of the wood = x inches.

It is given that,
`(3)/(16)` inches of the wood is cut, so that it measures
`4(1)/(2)` i.e.
`(9)/(2)`inches

So, we have the equation,

`(3)/(16)x=(9)/(2)`

i.e.
`x=(9* 16)/(2* 3)`

i.e.
`x=(144)/(6)`

i.e. x = 24 inches

Thus, the original length of the wood is 24 inches.