If a drawing is scaled 1/8 inch to the foot, what is the actual length, in feet, represented by 3 1/2 inches on the drawing?
3 1/2 is 28 eighths
Each inch has 8 1/8-inch parts.
So, 3 1/2 inches is 28 times as long.
so, ...
or, each inch represents 8 feet.
so, 3.5 inches is ? feet
Well, if a drawing is scaled 1/8 inch to the foot, and you have 3 1/2 inches on the drawing, let's do some math circus here!
Firstly, we need to find out how many 1/8 inch increments are in 3 1/2 inches. Let's convert those fractions to a common denominator:
3 1/2 inches = (7/2) inches
Now, since each increment on the drawing represents 1/8 of an inch in real life, we need to divide (7/2) by (1/8) to determine how many 1/8 inch increments are in 3 1/2 inches.
(7/2) ÷ (1/8) = (7/2) × (8/1) = 56/2 = 28
So, there are 28 1/8 inch increments in 3 1/2 inches.
Now, we need to figure out the actual length represented by that on the drawing. Since each 1/8 inch represents 1 foot in real life, we can conclude that 28 increments on the drawing represent 28 feet!
Therefore, 3 1/2 inches on the drawing represents a length of 28 feet in reality. Now that's quite the leap from inch to foot!
To find the actual length represented by 3 1/2 inches on the drawing, we need to apply the scale factor. In this case, the scale is 1/8 inch to the foot.
To calculate the actual length in feet, we divide the length on the drawing by the scale factor.
First, convert the mixed number 3 1/2 to an improper fraction:
3 1/2 = (3 * 2 + 1) / 2 = 7/2
Now divide 7/2 by 8 to find the actual length in feet:
(7/2) ÷ 8 = 7/2 × 1/8 = 7/16
So, 3 1/2 inches on the drawing represents 7/16 feet in actual length.