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Difficulty: EasyStandard Measurement and Layout Tools

A technician uses a standard steel rule to measure a piece of flat bar stock that is 558 inches5\frac{5}{8}\text{ inches} long. If a piece measuring 38 inch\frac{3}{8}\text{ inch} is cut off from one end, what is the remaining length of the stock in inches, expressed as a decimal?

Answer: 5.25 inches

Answer

The remaining length of the stock is 5.25 inches5.25\text{ inches}.
Subtracting 38 inch\frac{3}{8}\text{ inch} from the original length of 558 inches5\frac{5}{8}\text{ inches} yields 528 inches5\frac{2}{8}\text{ inches}. Simplifying the fraction gives 514 inches5\frac{1}{4}\text{ inches}, which converts to 5.25 inches5.25\text{ inches} in decimal notation.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Subtract the cut length from the initial measured length.
558 in−38 in=528 in5\frac{5}{8}\text{ in} - \frac{3}{8}\text{ in} = 5\frac{2}{8}\text{ in}
Cutting off material reduces the total length, requiring subtraction of the two values.
2
Simplify the fractional measurement and convert to decimal form.
528 in=514 in=5.25 in5\frac{2}{8}\text{ in} = 5\frac{1}{4}\text{ in} = 5.25\text{ in}
Reducing 28\frac{2}{8} to 14\frac{1}{4} allows direct decimal conversion as 0.250.25 added to the whole number 55.

Key Concept

Linear measurement arithmetic and fractional reduction on standard shop rules.

Alternative Method

Convert the mixed fractions directly to decimals before subtracting: 558=5.6255\frac{5}{8} = 5.625 and 38=0.375\frac{3}{8} = 0.375. Then calculate 5.625−0.375=5.25 inches5.625 - 0.375 = 5.25\text{ inches}.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Standard Measurement and Layout Tools

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