STEP INTO THE GED
CAREER MATH: Occupational Interests

 RETURN TO W1 INTRO 

 

All occupations require some math. Rodeo riders need to keep score and understand time, and it doesn't hurt them to keep track of money!

 

A carpenter uses a different type of math than a rodeo rider or an accountant, but math is an essential skill in any workplace.

Everyone must be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide. Accountants need to add, subtract, multiply, and divide to keep track of money. Doctors and pharmacists need to add, subtract, multiply, and divide to measure dosages. Engineers may  need to add, subtract, multiply, and divide to measure volume, or torque, or electrical power. Cooks and chefs will need to add, subtract, multiply, and divide to measure food and liquid quantities. Carpenters and architects need to add, subtract, multiply, and divide to measure distances and spaces.

 
In this unit, let's explore how builders measure distances and spaces.

How do we measure distances in the United States? Click the math icon below. A new window will open. When you finish the activities, just click back on this page and continue.

Click the box to learn more about measuring distance from your Math Mentor.
(Please be patient. Allow time for the page to load.)
You can build something useful without measuring, if you are very talented or lucky. As a professional, you will need to measure everything very carefully.

Most builders use lumber. Most lumber is sold by the board foot. A board foot is one foot long, one foot wide, and one inch thick.

If you would like to know how many board feet are in a given piece of lumber, use the following formula:

T x W x L / 12

T = the thickness of the board in inches (in)
W = the width of the board in inches
L = the length of the board in feet (ft)

Challenge and practice A: Provide the information requested. Check the answer only after you enter your own answer.

Problem Example: You want to know how many board feet are in an 14 foot-long piece of 2 x 10 lumber.

Apply the formula T x W x L / 12

 2 x 10 x 14 / 12 = 21.33, so there are 23.33 board feet in that particular piece of lumber.

1. You want to know how many board feet are in an 18 foot-long piece of 2.5 x 8 lumber.

2.You want to know how many board feet are in an 15 foot-long piece of 2 x 10 lumber.

3. You want to know how many board feet are in an 17 foot-long piece of 1x 12 lumber. When you find the answer, calculate the amount in centimeters.