Question

Find the number of boards of each 2 feet 8 inches long, can be cut from a board 16 feet long.

Short answer

6 boards of each 2 feet 8 inches long, can be cut from a board 16 feet long.

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. By conversion formula.

Conversion rule of converting feet into inches which can be mathematically expressed as

$1\mathrm{feet}=12\mathrm{inches}$

Now, convert 16 feet and 2 feet 8 inches to inches as shown below.

$\begin{array}{c}16\mathrm{feet}=\left(16\right)\left(12\right)\mathrm{inches}\\ =192 \mathrm{inches}\\ 2\mathrm{feet}8 \mathrm{inches}=\left(\left(2\right)\left(12\right)+8\right)\mathrm{inches}\\ =32 \mathrm{inches}\end{array}$

Step 2. Divide 192 inches by 32 inches.

Now, the number of boards, each 2 feet 8 inches long, can be cut from a board 16 feet long can be evaluated when 192 is divided by 32. Therefore,

$\begin{array}{c}192÷32=192·\frac{1}{32}\\ =\frac{32·6}{32}\\ =6\end{array}$

- DESCRIPTION OF STEPS.

Thus, 6 boards, each 2 feet 8 inches long, can be cut from a board 16 feet long.