Question 32970
12 1/2*10 1/3 = 25/2*31/3 OR 775/6 SQ FEET
 
12 1/2 IS THE SAME AS 25/2 BECAUSE 12=24/2 AND THEN YOU ADD THE 1/2 TO 24/2  YOU GET 25/2. 
10 1/3 IS THE SAME AS 31/3 BECAUSE 10=30/3 AND THEN YOU ADD THE 1/3 TO THE 30/3 YOU GET 31/3. NOW WE NEED TO MULTIPLY THE TWO NUMERATORS AND THE TWO DENOMINATORS WE GET 25*31=775 AND THE DENOMINATORS ARE 2*3=6 THUS WE HAVE 775/6.

5 INCHES WHEN EXPRESSED AS FEET IS 5/12 OR 5 INCHES IS WHAT PART OF A FOOT (12 INCHES)?
THUS 5/12*5/12=25/144 SQ FEET WHICH IS THE AREA OF ONE TILE EXPRESSED IN SQ  FEET.

NOW WE HAVE THE TOTAL AREA FOR TILING AND THE SIZE OF ONE TILE. NOW WE NEED TO FIND OUT HOW MANY TILES WILL FIT IN THE FLOOR AREA. THUS WE NEED TO DIVIDE THE TOTAL AREA BY ONE TILE TO FIND OUT HOW MANY ARE NEEDED TO FILL THE ROOM.
 
(775/6)/(25/144) OR (775/6)IS NOW MULTIPLIED BY THE INVERSE OF THE DENOMINATOR OR 144/25 OR (775/6)*(144/25) OR THE NUMERATOR IS 775*144=111600 AND THE DENOMINATOR IS 6*25=150. THUS WE DIVIDE 111600 BY 125 WE GET 744.
THUS 744 5 INCH TILES ARE REQUIRED TO FILL AN AREA OF 777/6 SQ FEET.
     
THE REAL WORLD REQUIRES A TILEMAN/WOMAN TO KNOW HOW MANY TILES HE/SHE NEEDS TO COMPLETE THE JOB. NOT TOO MANY BOXES AND NOT TOO FEW.

HOPE THIS EXPLAINS THE ANSWERS.