document.write( "Question 1109599: You have been asked to find the area of a thin strip of cloth which goes around a mat. The strip is 24 feet long but only half an inch wide. 1. Calculate the area in both square feet and square inches.
\n" ); document.write( "2. Which unit seems most appropriate to use in this situation? Explain your reasoning.
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Algebra.Com's Answer #724591 by Boreal(15235) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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In square feet it is 24feet*(1/24) feet, where the 1/24 is the fraction of a foot that 1/2 inch is.
\n" ); document.write( "That is 1 ft^2.
\n" ); document.write( "In square inches, it is 288 inches*(1/2) inch=144 sq inches.
\n" ); document.write( "The second is more useful from the standpoint of the strip, because the width is 1/2 inch and it is quite easy to know the length if one knows the area or vice versa.
\n" ); document.write( "The first is more useful in comparing it to the mat, which probably has ft^2 units.
\n" ); document.write( "Both have their place
\n" ); document.write( "1 ft^2 is 144 in^2. \n" ); document.write( "

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