SEARCH HOME
Math CentralQuandaries & Queries

search

Question from : Deanna

I am trying to cover a 16 x 31 foot ceiling with tablecloths. For sale, are 90 x 132 inch tablecloths for $4.97 a piece and 60 x 102 inch tablecloths for $3.85 a piece. Which would be my cheapest option to cover the entire space?

Hi again Deanna,

Let's do this one by area. The ceiling is 16 feet by 31 feet and there are 12 inches in a foot so the area is

\[16 \times 12 \times 31 \times 12 = 71,424 \mbox{ square feet.}\]

A 90 inch by 132 inch table cloth is $90 \times 132 = 11,880$ square feet and $\large \frac{71,424}{11,880}\normalsize = 6.012.$ Thus you need 7 tablecloths and the cost will be $7 \times \$4.97 = \$34.79.$

A 60 inch by 102 inch tablecloth is $60 \times 102 = 6,120$ square inches and $\large \frac{71,424}{6,120}\normalsize = 11.67.$ Thus you need 12 tablecloths and the cost will be $12 \times \$3.85 = \$46.20.$

Penny

About Math Central
 

 


Math Central is supported by the University of Regina and The Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences.
Quandaries & Queries page Home page University of Regina PIMS