Square Feet?

Question

I feel ridiculous asking this question but math has never been a strong suit for me. I had the problem for quite some time and needed an answer. I was given an answer but dont understand how he came about the answer. I need someone to explain this problem to me in lamens terms please, so that I wont EVER have to ask again lol:

16in x 20in *divided by* 144 x $5.85 per sq ft = $18.81

Wow just looking at that makes me dizzy.

Well I originally got $13 but the guy said it wasnt right when I was asking about the *canvas*. He said it was $18.81. Thats why I was confused. Btw I have 2 degrees, Im not retarded.. im just bad at math. Thanks.

Answer 1

The 16 * 20=320in^2 gives the square feet of the material; since the price is evidently 5.85 per square feet and a square foot is 144in^2: just divide the 320 by 144 to give the number of square feet that you have purchased to get 320/144=2.222--finally, multiply this number by 5.85 to get the purchase price.

Answer 2

16 x 20 = 320 square inches.

12 x 12 = 144, which means there are 144 square inches in a square foot ( a square foot is 12 inches by 12 inches).

Divide 320 square inches by 144 square inches and you convert to square feet: 320/144 = 2.22 square feet.

If the wood (or concrete or carpet or whatever) costs $5.85 per square foot, then you should be paying 2.22 x 5.85 for it.

That comes out to $13 by the way, and not $18.81. Which is why you should have paid attention in math class so you wouldn't be at the mercy of the cashier (who also didnt pay attention in math class and so overcharged you).

Answer 3

Methinks, you paid too much!

The price is per square foot - ($5.85 / sf) .
Your area to tile or cover was 16 inches x 20 inches.
So the area is 16 x 20 = 320 square INCHES.
We need to convert the square inches to square FEET.
So one square foot is 12 inches on each side, or 12 x 12 and that equals 144 square inches in 1 square foot.

Now we divide your area (320) by the conversion factor (144) and that equals 2.222 square feet in 320 square inches.

Now we can find the cost as $5.85 x 2.22 = $13.

The whole thing looks like this:

Calculate area: 16 in x 20 in = 320 square inches
Convert area to feet: 320 sq in / 144 sq in
and that equals 2.2 square feet.
Calculate cost = 2.2 square feet x $5.85 per sq ft = $13.

Answer 4

Not exactly sure what your question is, but --
There are 144 square inches in 1 square foot. That is why after finding the area in square inches (16 * 20) you then divide by 144 to get square feet. Multiplying by the price per square foot ($5.85) gives you the total price paid.

Does that help?

Answer 5

If you look at this problem with no numbers you have in x in which equals in ^2 or squared inches. The same is with ft, ft x ft equals ft ^2 or square feet. In this problem what you are doing is multiplying 16in x 20in and getting 320 squared inches. You then must divide by 144 because that is one square foot but converted to inches a.k.a. 12in x 12in = 144 squared in or 1 squared foot. You must have multiply 12in by 12in to keep the same units also you cannot divide by 1 square foot as that would defeat the purpose. So after my blabbing if you multiply 16in x 20in you get 320 squared in. Then you actually multiply 320 squared in by 1squared foot/144 squared in. if you cross multiply your units squared inches cancel out leaving you with 2.222/1 squared foot. Then multiplying by dollars you get 12.99 dollars per squared foot also 12.99 dollars/1squared foot

Answer 6

one square foot is 12 in.b12in.all very simple.molt ply 12X12
and it going to be 144 s.in.

Answer 7

can you put up the original question?