Question

Anais bought 4 1/2 yards of ribbon. She had 3 feet 8 inches of ribbon left after trimming some curtains. How many inches of ribbon did Anais use to trim the curtains?
Anais used _____ inches of ribbon.

Answer 1

First convert all numbers into inches since that is the answer being solved for.

1 yard =36 inches
4.5 x 36 = 1,620 inches

1 foot = 12 inches
3 x 12 = 36 inches
36 + 8 = 44 inches

Now take 1,620 inches (starting ribbon measure) and subtract 44 inches (what was left over) to get the inches used to trim curtains.

1,620 inches - 44inches =
1,576 inches were used to trim the curtains.