Question

A roll of gasket material is 16 in wide. What length is needed to obtain 21 sq ft of the material? the answer has to be as a mixed number

Answer 1

The Solution:

Given:

`\begin{gathered} L=length=? \\ \\ W=width=16in \\ \\ A=area=21ft^2 \end{gathered}`

Step 1:

Convert 21 square feet to square inches.

Recall:

`\begin{gathered} 1\text{ foot}=12\text{ inches.} \\ So, \\ 21ft^2=21*12=252\text{ }inches^2 \end{gathered}`

Step 2:

Apply the formula for area.

`\begin{gathered} A=L* W \\ \\ 252=L*16 \end{gathered}`

Divide both sides by 16.

`L=(252)/(16)=(63)/(4)=15(3)/(4)\text{ }inches`

Therefore, the correct answer is:

`15(3)/(4)\text{ inches}`