Final answer:
To calculate the cost of baseboards, you would determine the perimeter of the room and multiply that by the cost per foot. For a square room measuring 12 m by 12 m, the perimeter is 48 m.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the cost of the baseboard needed for an office building, you would calculate the perimeter of the floor plan and multiply it by the cost per foot.
This is because baseboards run along the edge of the floor against the walls. Using the provided example of a house with a square footprint 12 m by 12 m, you can calculate the perimeter by adding the lengths of all sides: 12 m + 12 m + 12 m + 12 m, which equals 48 m.
The cost of the baseboard then needs to be multiplied by the price per unit length, not the area or volume. So, if the cost per meter of baseboard is, say, $5, the total cost for the baseboard would be 48 m × $5/m, which equals $240.
Remember that you do not need to account for the windows in this calculation, as baseboards typically are not installed across doorways or under windows.
Note: This process only applies to calculating the cost for the baseboards and not other outfitting considerations such as the number of laser printers or other equipment mentioned in Figure 5.1.1.
The chemical reaction example is a metaphor for how calculations are achieved, and thus it is not directly related to calculating baseboard cost.