Multiplying Inches
Multiplying two measurements in inches with a fraction is handy for squaring areas measured in inches. Two whole inch amounts are easy to work with, but it gets more complicated when there are fractions.
Calculation
- enter the length measurement in inches
- the width measurement in inches
- denominator is preset @ 16 for forcing the fraction to a usable format.
Result
- in decimal-inch format
- in inches plus a fraction
- in feet plus inches
- in feet plus inches and a usable fraction
Examples:
The measured length is 34 3/16 inches, and the width has a measurement of 22 3/8
There is more than one way to solve this.
Convert the fractions to a decimal, and multiply these amounts for a decimal result.
34 3/16------ 3 ÷ 16 = 0.1875 + 34 = 34.1875
22 3/8 ------- 3 ÷ 8 = 0.375 + 22 = 22.375
34.1875 * 22.375 = 764.9453125. You can round this amount to 765, which in most cases, is a close enough result.
In the second method, use straight multiplication.
34 3/16 * 22 3/8 =
34 * 22 = 748
34 *
3
/
8
= 102/8 =
51/4 = 12 3/4
3 /16 * 22 = 66/16 = 33/8 = 4 1/8
3 /16 * 3 /8 = 9 /128
add the amounts together: 748 + 12 3/4 + 4 1/8 = 764 121/128