# Thread: how long is the bolt?

1. ## how long is the bolt?

hey everybody,
i'm new to the forums and i'm new to math too. so please excuse me if my questions seem pretty elementary. i was wondering if you could not only provide the answer but also explain "how" you came to the answer. thanks man......i appreciate it.

a 3 inch bolt passes through 1 1/2 inches of pine board, a 1/16 inch washer, and a 1/8 inch nut. how many inches does the bolt extend beyond the board, washer and nut if the head of the bolt is a 1/4 inch long?

2. This is a fraction question obviously. The best trick not to make a mistake is to make a drawing.
You are told that you have 3" bolt with 1/4" head. It leaves 2 3/4" of "real bolt".
It goes through 1 1/2" of pine board, a 1/16" washer, and a 1/8" nut.
Common denominator is the key.
$\displaystyle *1 \frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{16} + \frac{1}{8} = \frac{24}{16}+\frac{1}{16} + \frac{2}{16} = \frac{27}{16}$
Bolt:
$\displaystyle 2 \frac{3}{4} = \frac{11}{4} = \frac{44}{4}$
You substract to find $\displaystyle \frac{17}{16}"$
I may have made a mistake so I suggest you redo the calculations.
Don't hesitate to ask further questions.