Question

Jillian needs to cross a stream that is 4 1⁄4 yards wide. She wants to use a nearby log which is 11 feet long. Is the log long enough to reach from one end of the stream to the other?

A:There is not enough information.

B:No. The log is 6 feet and 9 inches shorter than the stream.

C:Yes. The log is 6 feet and 9 inches wider than the stream.

D:No. The log is 1 feet and 9 inches shorter than the stream.

E:Yes. The log is 1 feet and 9 inches longer than the stream.

Answer 1

D

Explanation:

come on, you need to know your own measurement system.

there are 12 inches in a foot.

and there are 3 ft (and therefore 36 inches) in a yard.

now you get a glimpse on why the metric system of the rest of the world is so much easier to understand, where everything is related to other units by factors of 10.

anyway, the stream is 4 1/4 yards wide.

the log is 11 ft long.

11 ft = 11/3 = 3.666666... = 3 2/3 yards.

so, the log is definitely too short. by how much ?

4 1/4 yards = 4×36 + 36/4 in = 144 + 9 = 153 in

3 2/3 yards = 3×36 + 2×36/3 in = 108 + 24 = 132 in

the difference is

153 - 132 = 21 in = 1×12 + 9 = 1 ft 9 in

the log is too short by 1 ft 9 in.