Solve This Math Problem

[RUCRAYZE]

so a train is going east at 53 mph, and another (237 miles apart) is going west, on the same track, and at sunset, at 47 mph what time will they collide
Who gives a s_ _t, Just my 7th grade math teacher?

 

[Jambe]

Time for me to give my solution. ( It is fiberglass cloth which miked out at 0.012. Not tightly wrapped so I used 0.015--maybe should have been even higher.)

The thickness of the layers is 7". (18/2 - 4/2 = 7")
Calculate the number of layers in 7". (7/0.015 = 466.67 layers)
Average length of a layer--7"/2 gives the middle of the thickness and has a circumference of 34.557"
Number of layers x circumference gives length of cloth. (466.67 x 34.557" = 16,126.7")
Convert to feet. (16,126.7"/12 = 1343.9')
Convert to sq. yards. (1343.9' x 38/36 = 1418 sq. yards)

Anyone see a mistake in my calculations?

Thanks to all who worked out a solution.

 

[Johnny Acree]

OOOh! I was so close! I thought of using the middle of the roll for an average length,,, but that's about it.

 

[outsydthebox]

I knew the answer had something to do with Pi.....MMMmmm pie!
Pie is always the answer

 

[FC]

Time for me to give my solution. ( It is fiberglass cloth which miked out at 0.012. Not tightly wrapped so I used 0.015--maybe should have been even higher.)

The thickness of the layers is 7". (18/2 - 4/2 = 7")
Calculate the number of layers in 7". (7/0.015 = 466.67 layers)
Average length of a layer--7"/2 gives the middle of the thickness and has a circumference of 34.557"
Number of layers x circumference gives length of cloth. (466.67 x 34.557" = 16,126.7")
Convert to feet. (16,126.7"/12 = 1343.9')
Convert to sq. yards. (1343.9' x 38/36 = 1418 sq. yards)

Anyone see a mistake in my calculations?

Thanks to all who worked out a solution.

The convert to sq yards part, multiplies length in feet by width in yards (38/36)
I believe it should be ( (1343.9' / 3) X (38"/36) ) = 472.85 sq yards


I ended up with 472.856 square yards doing the calculation with a different method that you.

 

[Jambe]

Oh, no! I think you may be right. Got to rethink this.

 

[Jeff Porter]

Wow! Tough question. I've a degree in Math Education, I love word problems, and that is a really difficult question.

I may (or may not) tackle it later.

 

[Jambe]

I may (or may not) tackle it later.

I hope you do. The answer is very important to me.

 

[Coss]

I have a roll of cloth that is 18" in diameter. It has a tube in the center that is 4" in diameter. The cloth is 0.012" thick.
How many feet of cloth is on the roll? Show your work!
Bonus points: If the width of the cloth is 38" how many sq.yards in the roll?
(Since the cloth may not be wrapped tight maybe 0.015 should be used?)
This is of importance to another ElioOwners.com member.

Now do we get to know why it's important? Inquirering minds want to know.

 

[Jambe]

I may be selling this to someone you know. At $1.00 a yard there is considerable money at stake.