from one piece of wood , Sam cut two 9 1/2 in. strips for 2 sides of a frame. He cut two 11 3/4 in . strips each for the other 2 sides Sam had 5 1/2 in.of wood left. How long was the piece of wood when he started ?
(2 * 9.5) + (2 * 11.75) + 5.5 = x
19 + 23.5 + 5.5 = x
48 = x
To find out the length of the piece of wood that Sam started with, we can add up the lengths of all the strips he cut and then add the leftover wood. Here's how we can do it step by step:
1. Calculate the total length of the two 9 1/2 inch strips:
- Two 9 1/2 inch strips would have a total length of 9 1/2 + 9 1/2 inches.
- This is equivalent to 19 + 1/2 + 1/2 inches, which simplifies to 19 + 1 = 20 inches.
2. Calculate the total length of the two 11 3/4 inch strips:
- Two 11 3/4 inch strips would have a total length of 11 3/4 + 11 3/4 inches.
- This is equivalent to 23 + 3/4 + 3/4 inches, which simplifies to 23 + 1 = 24 inches.
3. Add up the total length of all the strips:
- Total length of the strips = Length of the two 9 1/2 inch strips + Length of the two 11 3/4 inch strips.
- Total length of the strips = 20 inches + 24 inches = 44 inches.
4. Add the length of leftover wood:
- Sam had 5 1/2 inches of wood left.
- Add this length to the total length of the strips: 44 inches + 5 1/2 inches.
Combining these lengths, we get:
- 44 inches + 5 1/2 inches = 44 + 5 + 1/2 inches
- This simplifies to 49 + 1/2 inches.
Therefore, the length of the piece of wood that Sam started with was 49 1/2 inches.