Convert the diameter to inches or to feet

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around converting the diameter of a tank from feet and inches to inches and feet, as well as calculating the radius and area of the tank's bottom. The context includes homework-related calculations and specifications for a tank that holds benzene.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant states that the diameter is 28 feet 4 inches, converting this to inches as 340 inches and to feet as 28.333 feet.
  • Another participant clarifies the conversion process from inches to feet, emphasizing the division by 12 and questioning whether the measurement is a diameter or radius.
  • There is a discussion about the area calculation, with one participant noting that the area cannot be measured in inches and suggesting the formula for area in terms of diameter.
  • Some participants express uncertainty about the correctness of the calculations and seek confirmation on their steps.
  • One participant mentions the specifications of the tank, including its height and the specific gravity of the liquid it holds, which adds context to the calculations.
  • There is a question regarding the significance of the variable "D," with a suggestion that it represents diameter, and a correction regarding a potential typo in earlier posts.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the correctness of the calculations, particularly regarding the area and the interpretation of the measurements. No consensus is reached on the accuracy of the various steps presented.

Contextual Notes

Some calculations appear to have missing assumptions or unclear definitions, particularly regarding the area measurement and the conversion process. The discussion includes unresolved mathematical steps and potential typos in earlier posts.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students working on similar homework problems involving unit conversions, area calculations, and understanding the relationships between diameter, radius, and volume in the context of cylindrical tanks.

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Homework Statement


Convert the diameter to inches or to feet. Inches = 28 feet*12 inches/foot + 4 inches = 340 inches. Feet=28.333

Radius = 170 inches or 14.167 feet.

Area of the bottom in square inch = 3.1416*170*170 = 90,746 sq in

Area of the bottom in ft2 (square feet) = 3.1416 *

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


Inches equals 28 times 12 plus 4 = 340

Feet is 28 +1 divide by 12 times 4 =28.333

The area of the bottom in inches is 3.1416 times 170 times 170= 90,746

The area in feet would be 3.416 times 28.333 times 28.333 = 2521.947
 
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To convert inches to feet, you can use the fact that there are 12 inches in one foot. You can use a simple division to perform the conversion. Here's how you do it:

Divide the number of inches by 12 (since 1 foot = 12 inches).

For example, if you have 24 inches and you want to convert it to feet, you would do:

24 inches / 12 = 2 feet

So, 24 inches is equivalent to 2 feet.

I take it you are charged to write 28'4" either as feet or inches instead of a mixture?
Check: is this a diameter or a radius?

Some notes:

28+(4/12) feet is all you need ... that's 28.1/3 feet.
[note 1 divide by 12 times 4 is the same as 4/12]

The area of the bottom cannot be measured in inches - since "inches" is the unit of length, not area.
You can also convert square inches to square feet by realizing there are 12x12=144 in2 to 1 ft2 without having to convert each term in the calculation. But since you've already converted the length ... note: if that is a diameter, the formula for the area is ##A=\pi d^2/4##

Did you have a question?
 
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so i change the first part to Feet is 28+(4/12)=28.333 are the second and third parts correct ? if not please show me what i did wrong. thanks
 
How many significant figures do you keep when you round off?
Is the figure 28'4" a diameter or a radius?
 
the assignment had some info I didnt post sorry. there were 4 different steps and i did them all right except for step one which is the one i postedObjective:

To calculate the volume of a 28’4” diameter tank.Specifications:

The tank is 28’4” in diameter and 20 feet tall (bottom seam to top of side or roof seam). It should not be filled past 95% of its height. It holds benzene, which has a specific gravity of 0.84.
 
ok i think i got it

D=12’4”

Converting to inches D=12feet * 12inches/foot +4 inches =340

Converting to feet 28+(4/12)=28.333

Radius r=d/2=340inches/2=170inches Or 28.333/2=14.167feet

Area of the bottom in ft2 (square feet) = 3.1416*28.333 feet2 =2521947 feet2
 
D=12’4”
... what does "D stand for?
Where did you get that number from?

Radius r=d/2=340inches/2=170inches Or 28.333/2=14.167feet

Area of the bottom in ft2 (square feet) = 3.1416*28.333 feet2 =2521947 feet2
... taking "feet2" to mean "square feet"... then that would be the area of the tank.
I guess my question about radius or diameter has been answered above. What about the other questions?
Also: are you supposed to find the volume of the whole tank of just the maximum volume of benzine that it may contain?

It is best practice to express the equations in terms of the data you have rather than convert the data into something the equation uses; so:
The area of a circle, in terms of the diameter, is: ##A=\frac{1}{4}\pi d^2##
It is OK to represent a dimension by a fraction - so the diameter would be (84/3)feet and the radius (42/3)feet.
It is also OK to quote a volume in cubic-inches.
 
jim1174 said:
ok i think i got it

D=12’4”

Converting to inches D=12feet * 12inches/foot +4 inches =340

Converting to feet 28+(4/12)=28.333

Radius r=d/2=340inches/2=170inches Or 28.333/2=14.167feet

Area of the bottom in ft2 (square feet) = 3.1416*28.333 feet2 =2521947 feet2

Simon Bridge said:
... what does "D stand for?
Where did you get that number from?
I think Jim made a typo. D in the quoted text above is diameter, and he inadvertently wrote 12 when he meant 28.
 

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