Question

A building contractor has a piece of crown molding that is 48 1/2 in. Long. He cuts off one piece measuring 10 1/4 in. and another piece of 2 ft and 1/8 in. How much crown molding does he have left?

Answer 1

10 1/4 = 10 2/8 + 24 1/8 =34 3/8 ,48 4/8 - 34 3/8 = 14 1/8 inches left ,( - 1/4'' for 2 cuts @1/8'' each)

Answer 2

The crown molding that was left was:

`36(1)/(8)\ in.`

Explanation:

The length of the crown is: 48 1/2 in.

which could also be given by:

`48(1)/(2)=(97)/(2)\ in.`

Also, he cuts off one piece measuring 10 1/4 in. and another piece of 2 ft and 1/8 in.

i.e. the pieces were of length:

`10(1)/(4)=(41)/(4)\ in.`

and
`2(1)/(8)=(17)/(8)\ in.`

No, let the remaining piece be of length ' x'

This means that:

`(97)/(2)=(41)/(4)+(17)/(8)+x\\\\\\i.e.\\\\\\x=(97)/(2)-(41)/(4)-(17)/(8)\\\\\\x=(97* 4-41* 2-17* 1)/(8)\\\\\\x=(388-82-17)/(8)\\\\\\x=(289)/(8)\\\\i.e.\\\\x=36(1)/(8)\ in.`