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?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: 20 inches

Explanation:


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


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