Question

You are installing new carpeting in a family room. The room is rectangular with dimensions 20 1/2 feet × 13 1/8 feet. You intend to install baseboards around the entire perimeter of the room except for a 3 1/2-foot opening into the kitchen. How many linear feet of board must you purchase?

Answer 1

Answer: 1. When you estimate, it is not an exact measurement. 3ft 8 in gets rounded to 4ft and 12 ft 3 in rounds to 12ft. now find the perimeter. P=2l+2w P= 2*12 +2*4 P=32feet

2. 3ft 8in = 3 8/12 or reduced to 3 2/3  12ft 3in = 12 3/12 or reduced to 12 1/4   The fractional part is referring to a fraction of a foot.

3. The perimeter of the room is P=2l+2w or P=2(12 1/4) + 2(3 2/3) p=24 1/2 + 7 1/3  P= 31 5/6 feet

4. The estimate and the actual are very close. They are 1/6 of a foot apart.

5a. Total baseboard 31 5/6ft - 2 1/4 ft = 29 7/12 feet needed.

5b. Take the total and divide it by 8ft  = 29 7/12 divided by 8= 3.7  You are not buying a fraction of a board so you would need 4 boards.