Question

A carpenter needs to cut four sections, each 3–feet 8–inches long, from a piece of molding. If the board is only sold by the foot, what’s the shortest length of board she can buy?

Answer 1

Alright, lets get started.

The length of each section what carpenter needs to cut is 3 feet and 8 inches.

Converting 3 feet and 8 inches into feet only, we know, $12 inches = 1 feet$

So, 3 feet 8 inches = $3 +\frac{8}{12} =3 +\frac{2}{3} =\frac{11}{3}$ feet

It means length of each section = $\frac{11}{3}$ feet

Carpenter needs to cut 4 sections, so length of 4 sections will be = $4*\frac{11}{3}=\frac{44}{3}=14\frac{2}{3} feet$

2/3 feet means 8 inches so she needs board 14 feet 8 inches

Board is only sold by the feet only so, she has to puchase 15 feet board.   :   Answer

Hope it will help :)