Equal partition of a board — unit conversion and division A wooden board is 80 inches long and is cut into 4 equal parts in a workshop. What is the exact length of each part, expressed in inches?

Introduction / Context:This problem assesses basic numerical simplification with real-world wording. A single board of known length is evenly divided. The task is to compute the length of one equal segment, reinforcing division of a whole by an integer and careful attention to units (inches).

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Total length of the board = 80 inches.
• The board is divided into 4 equal parts.
• All parts are identical in length.
• Final answer should be reported in inches.

Concept / Approach:When a quantity is split into n equal parts, each part has size total / n. Here, that is 80 / 4. Because the units are inches and there is no conversion needed, the computation is a straightforward division.

Step-by-Step Solution:Let L_total = 80 inches.Number of equal parts, n = 4.Length per part = L_total / n = 80 / 4.Compute: 80 / 4 = 20.Therefore, each part measures 20 inches.

Verification / Alternative check:Add the four equal parts to recover the total: 20 + 20 + 20 + 20 = 80 inches. This confirms the division is consistent with the original length.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:25 inches, 15 inches, 18 inches, and 22 inches do not multiply by 4 to return 80 inches; each would yield an incorrect total when recombined.

Common Pitfalls:Confusing “divide by 4” with “subtract 4,” or attempting unnecessary unit conversions. Another mistake is averaging unrelated options rather than performing the exact division.

Final Answer:20 inches