A combat engineer platoon is constructing a defensive barrier. They use 15 sandbags to rei… — Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

A combat engineer platoon is constructing a defensive barrier. They use $15$ sandbags to reinforce a specific section. If each filled sandbag weighs exactly $42$ pounds and $12$ ounces, what is the total weight of the sandbags used for this section, in pounds?

Answer: 641.25 pounds

Answer

641.25

The correct calculation requires first establishing the exact weight of a single sandbag in pounds. Because there are

16

ounces in

1

pound,

12

ounces converts to

0.75

pounds (

12 \div 16

). Adding this to the base

42

pounds yields

42.75

pounds per sandbag. Multiplying this decimal weight by the

15

sandbags results in exactly

641.25

pounds.

Step-by-Step Solution

Convert the ounce portion of the sandbag weight into pounds.

12 \text{ oz} \div 16 \text{ oz/lb} = 0.75 \text{ lbs}

To perform accurate arithmetic operations in a single unit, the mixed US Customary unit must be standardized into pounds.

Calculate the total weight of one sandbag in pounds.

42 \text{ lbs} + 0.75 \text{ lbs} = 42.75 \text{ lbs}

Combines the converted ounce value with the existing pound value to find the exact decimal weight of a single unit.

Multiply the single sandbag weight by the total number of sandbags.

42.75 \text{ lbs} \times 15 = 641.25 \text{ lbs}

Finds the aggregate weight for all

15

sandbags used in the section.

Key Concept

Converting mixed US Customary weight units (pounds and ounces) to a single decimal unit and calculating aggregate weight.

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