Could someone please explain where they got 27, and why the cubic yards are not a whole number? I am very confused. The exclamation marks show the problem aspects.

If the border needs to be covered to a depth of 3 inches and pine bark costs $29 per cubic yard, what will the material cost to lay the pine bark border? Assume that you must purchase a whole number of cubic yards and not a fraction of a cubic yard.
Volume = (area)(depth) = 336 sq.ft * (0.25 ft) = 84 cu. ft
84 cu ft = 84/27! = 3.111! cu yrd
Price = 3.1111!*$29 = $90.22

EDIT: I am still very confused now, because even though it said a whole number in the previous part, now it has $90.22 as if it was 3.11111*$29=$90.22 instead of the rounded 4*$29=$116. Please help!

(e) Use your function to complete the table below. Round to the nearest cent. We
have completed one row of the table for you so that you can check that your
function is actually correct. Hint: The TABLE feature on your graphing calculator
may be useful here.
Width of border x (in feet) Cost ($)
1
2
3 $90.22
4
5

Question

Could someone please explain where they got 27, and why the cubic yards are not a whole number? I am very confused. The exclamation marks show the problem aspects.

If the border needs to be covered to a depth of 3 inches and pine bark costs $29 per cubic yard, what will the material cost to lay the pine bark border? Assume that you must purchase a whole number of cubic yards and not a fraction of a cubic yard.
Volume = (area)(depth) = 336 sq.ft * (0.25 ft) = 84 cu. ft 
84 cu ft = 84/27! = 3.111! cu yrd
Price = 3.1111!*$29 = $90.22

EDIT: I am still very confused now, because even though it said a whole number in the previous part, now it has $90.22 as if it was 3.11111*$29=$90.22 instead of the rounded 4*$29=$116. Please help!

(e) Use your function to complete the table below. Round to the nearest cent. We
have completed one row of the table for you so that you can check that your
function is actually correct. Hint: The TABLE feature on your graphing calculator
may be useful here.
Width of border x (in feet) Cost ($)
1
2
3 $90.22
4
5

anonymous · Answer

draw a cube that is iyard by 1 yard by one yard. That is a cubic yard.   Now change the yard on each side to 3 feet.  Multiply length by width by height ie 3 by 3 by 3 and 27 cubic feet comes onto the scene.  TADA

anonymous · Answer

Oh.... xD

anonymous · Answer

Okay, so I get that part, what about the decimal cubic yard? Shouldn't it be rounded up to the whole number 4 or am I wrong?

anonymous · Answer

I agree its 3 and a bit cubic yards therefore if a bit empty is okay buy 3, but if full is important buy 4 and throw some away!  Good for a discussion with the person who assigned the task .   (4 *29 = $116)

anonymous · Answer

Okay, thank you. :)

anonymous · Answer

don't forget the medal     LOL

anonymous · Answer

I am still very confused now, because even though it said a whole number in the previous part, now it has $90.22 as if it was 3.11111*$29=$90.22 instead of the rounded 4*$29=$116. Please help!

(e) Use your function to complete the table below. Round to the nearest cent. We
have completed one row of the table for you so that you can check that your
function is actually correct. Hint: The TABLE feature on your graphing calculator
may be useful here.
Width of border x (in feet) Cost ($)
1
2
3 $90.22
4
5

anonymous · Answer

Is this an error or am I missing something? :/