How many pieces 5 1/2 in. long can be cut from 40 metal rods each 36 in. long? Disregard waste. _______ pieces can be cut from 40 metal rods.
To solve this problem, we need to find out how many 5 1/2 inch pieces can be cut from a 36 inch long metal rod.
First, convert 36 inches to feet: 36 inches / 12 inches/foot = 3 feet.
Then, multiply the number of feet by 12 to convert it back to inches: 3 feet * 12 inches = 36 inches.
Next, divide the length of the metal rod by the length of each piece: 36 inches / 5.5 inches = 6.545 (rounded to 3 decimal places).
Since we cannot have a fraction of a piece, it means that each 36 inch rod can only be cut into 6 pieces.
Now, multiply the number of pieces cut from one rod by the total number of rods: 6 pieces/rod * 40 rods = 240 pieces.
Therefore, 240 pieces can be cut from 40 metal rods.