Convert 42 inches to feet. 1 foot = 12 inches
The correct answer and explanation is:
Conversion:
To convert 42 inches to feet, use the fact that 1 foot = 12 inches. feet=inches12=4212=3.5 feet\text{feet} = \frac{\text{inches}}{12} = \frac{42}{12} = 3.5 \text{ feet}
Answer: 42 inches = 3.5 feet
Explanation (300 words):
Converting measurements between different units is a fundamental skill in math and everyday life, particularly when working with the Imperial system of measurement, which is commonly used in the United States. Here, length can be expressed in inches, feet, yards, and miles, among others. To convert between these units, you need to understand the relationships or equivalencies between them.
In this example, we are converting inches to feet. The key conversion factor is that 1 foot equals 12 inches. This means that every foot you have contains 12 inches inside it. To convert a length from inches into feet, you divide the number of inches by 12.
Why do we divide? Because if you have, say, 24 inches, and you want to know how many feet that is, you’re essentially grouping those inches into sets of 12. Since one foot is one set of 12 inches, you want to find out how many such sets (or feet) fit into the total number of inches.
The calculation looks like this: 42 inches÷12 inches per foot=3.5 feet42 \text{ inches} \div 12 \text{ inches per foot} = 3.5 \text{ feet}
So, 42 inches equals 3.5 feet. This means 42 inches is the same as 3 whole feet plus half a foot (because 0.5 feet × 12 inches/foot = 6 inches).
This type of conversion is very useful in real-life situations such as measuring heights, lengths of objects, or construction materials. Often, measurements may be given in inches for precision, but expressing them in feet can be easier to understand or visualize.
In summary, the process requires knowing the conversion factor, setting up a division (for smaller to larger units), and performing the calculation to get the result in the desired unit.