SOLUTION: Lynn takes a step, measures its length and obtains 3 feet. Lynn uses this measurement in attempting to pace off a 1-mile course, but the result is 98 feet too long. What is the act

Algebra ->  Length-and-distance -> SOLUTION: Lynn takes a step, measures its length and obtains 3 feet. Lynn uses this measurement in attempting to pace off a 1-mile course, but the result is 98 feet too long. What is the act      Log On


   

Question 1072758: Lynn takes a step, measures its length and obtains 3 feet. Lynn uses this measurement in attempting to pace off a 1-mile course, but the result is 98 feet too long. What is the actual length of Lynn’s stride, and how could Lynn have done a more accurate job?
Found 3 solutions by Fombitz, Alan3354, ikleyn:
Answer by Fombitz(32388) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
First find the number of steps Lynn took to make a mile,
3n=5280
n=1760
So Lynn actually took 1760 steps but came out to 5280%2B98=5378
So the actual stride is,
S=5378%2F1760=2689%2F880
or approximately,
S=3.06 ft
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Lynn should use a ruler, yardstick, tape measure, etc. something that cannot change when used multiple times.
The error would be reduce by using a larger known measurement device.
Example, using a precisely 100' tape measure 53 times versus using a yardstick 1760 times would reduce the error.

Answer by Alan3354(69443) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
She should take more than 1 step, and then measure.
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eg, take 10 steps, measure, then divide by 10.

Answer by ikleyn(52803) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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Usually / (as a rule) there is one way to do things right and infinitely many ways to do them wrong.


I am amazing that there are the tutors in the forum ready to discuss this post.