Question

To make a pencil holder, Maria tied pieces of colored string around the outside of a cylindrical can 4 in. in diameter and 6 in. high. The string was 1/12 in. in diameter. Maria used 1 in. of string to tie each knot. How much string did she use if she covered the entire outside of the can with circles of string?

Answer 1

if the diameter of the can is 4 inches, what is the circumference?

Answer 2

12.56

Answer 3

once you find that, you'll know how much string it takes to wrap the can once, then decide how many wraps it will take to cover the whole can...

Answer 4

so, i multiply 12.56*6 too?

Answer 5

the string is 1/12 inches in diameter so every wrap covers 1/12 of an inch... how many wraps to cover one inch of the can?

Answer 6

i dont get it.

Answer 7

if you wrap the can once starting at the bottom, how much of the can have you covered up with string... the string is 1/12 of an inch thick (that's its diameter)

Answer 8

you covered 1/12 inch

Answer 9

yep:)

Answer 10

so 12 wraps covers how many inches?

Answer 11

1

Answer 12

yep:) and you have 6 inches total to cover... so how many wraps?

Answer 13

72

Answer 14

yes and how long was each wrap?

Answer 15

1 inch

Answer 16

12.56

Answer 17

all the way around the can, remember?

Answer 18

ok

Answer 19

wait why are multiplying 72*4?

Answer 20

4*pi is the circumference of the can is the length of string required to go all the way around the can....

Answer 21

so 72 wraps* (4*pi) inches / wrap + 1 inch per knot per wrap

Answer 22

think it over a bit, you'll see that it all works out:)

Answer 23

so it's 73*12.56+1?

Answer 24

how do i know how many knots are in a wrap?

Answer 25

@Algebraic!