Countertop

Sam is constructing a rectangle on an 18 1/2 x 35 1/3" countertop. He will need to cut out his area to place his sink and the opening. What is the product of the two measurements rounded to the nearest whole?

Correct answer:

x =  653 ²⁄₃ = 1961/3

Step-by-step explanation:

$$\begin{gathered} a=18\frac{1}{2}=18+\frac{1}{2}=\frac{18\cdot 2+1}{2}=\frac{36+1}{2}=\frac{37}{2}=18\frac{1}{2}=18.5\text{in} \\ b=35\frac{1}{3}=35+\frac{1}{3}=\frac{35\cdot 3+1}{3}=\frac{105+1}{3}=\frac{106}{3}=35\frac{1}{3}\doteq 35.3333\text{in} \\ x=a\cdot b=\frac{37}{2}\cdot \frac{106}{3}=\frac{37\cdot 106}{2\cdot 3}=\frac{3922}{6}=\frac{1961}{3}=653\frac{2}{3}=653.67 \end{gathered}$$

Try another example