document.write( "Question 444568: A carpenter has a piece of lumber measuring 7 feet 6 3/4 inches long. how much must the carpenter saw off to be left with a piece 5 feet 11 5/6 inches long? Assume the saw cut has no width. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #306419 by oberobic(2304)![]() ![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! First we need to get everything into the same units of measure. \n" ); document.write( "7 ft 6 3/4 in = 7*12 + 6 3/4 = 90 3/4 inches \n" ); document.write( "5 ft 11 5/6 = 5*12 + 11 5/6 = 71 5/6 inches \n" ); document.write( "Hmmm... \n" ); document.write( "The least common multiple of 4 and 6 is 12. \n" ); document.write( "3/4 = ?/12 \n" ); document.write( "3/4 = 9/12 \n" ); document.write( "So, 90 3/4 inches = 90 9/12 \n" ); document.write( "5/6 = ?/12 \n" ); document.write( "5/6 = 10/12 \n" ); document.write( "So, 71 5/6 inches = 71 10/12 \n" ); document.write( "90 9/12 - ? = 71 10/12 \n" ); document.write( "Well, 9/12 has to be increased by 1 = 12/12 to be able to subtract 10/12. \n" ); document.write( "89 21/12 - ? = 71 10/12 \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "89 21/12 \n" ); document.write( "-71 10/12 \n" ); document.write( "18 11/12 \n" ); document.write( "or \n" ); document.write( "1 ft 6 11/12 inches \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Answer: Cut 1 foot 6 11/12 inches. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Does that make sense? \n" ); document.write( "Always check your work. \n" ); document.write( "In this case you can use a calculator and check using decimals. \n" ); document.write( "3/4 = .75 \n" ); document.write( "90 3/4 inches = 90.75 \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "5/6 = .8333333... \n" ); document.write( "71 5/6 = 71.8333333... \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "90.75 - 71.8333333... = 18.91 \n" ); document.write( "18.91 = 1 ft 6 11/12 inches \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Done. \n" ); document.write( " |