Question

A carpenter needs to cut four sections, each 3–feet 8–inches long, from a piece of molding. If the board is only sold by the foot, what’s the shortest length of board she can buy?

Answer 1

Alright, lets get started.

The length of each section what carpenter needs to cut is 3 feet and 8 inches.

Converting 3 feet and 8 inches into feet only, we know,
`12 inches = 1 feet`

So, 3 feet 8 inches =
`3 +(8)/(12) =3 +(2)/(3) =(11)/(3)` feet

It means length of each section =
`(11)/(3)` feet

Carpenter needs to cut 4 sections, so length of 4 sections will be =
`4*(11)/(3)=(44)/(3)=14(2)/(3) feet`

2/3 feet means 8 inches so she needs board 14 feet 8 inches

Board is only sold by the feet only so, she has to puchase 15 feet board. : Answer

Hope it will help :)