A board is 61 inches long. How long is it in feet and inches?
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is 5 feet 1 inch.
To understand this conversion, remember that 1 foot is equal to 12 inches. To convert inches to feet and inches, divide the total inches by 12 to find out how many whole feet are contained in the measurement, then use the remainder as the leftover inches. For a board that is 61 inches long, dividing 61 by 12 gives 5 because 12 multiplied by 5 is 60. This means that there are 5 full feet in 61 inches. The remainder is 1 inch because 61 minus 60 equals 1. So the length of the board in feet and inches is 5 feet and 1 inch.
This type of measurement is important in woodworking, construction, and other practical tasks that require accurate dimensions. In many places that use the Imperial system, such as the United States, feet and inches are standard for describing lengths, heights, and widths of objects. Knowing how to switch between inches and feet helps when reading plans, cutting materials, or communicating dimensions.
The same principle applies to other Imperial conversions: always identify the conversion factor, which in this case is 12 inches per foot. For longer measurements, larger units such as yards may be used, but for most home or construction projects, feet and inches are more practical. This simple division method ensures that the final answer is easy to understand and work with when measuring materials or marking cuts. Understanding this concept also reinforces basic math skills such as division and working with remainders, which are valuable for both everyday life and more advanced tasks that require precise measurement conversions.