What is the minimum number of 50-foot rope sections needed to secure a 28 ft by 40 ft area?

To determine the minimum number of 50-foot rope sections needed to secure a 28 ft by 40 ft area, first calculate the perimeter of the area. The perimeter can be calculated using the formula for the perimeter of a rectangle:

Perimeter = 2 * (length + width)

In this case, the length is 40 feet and the width is 28 feet. Therefore, the perimeter is:

Perimeter = 2 * (40 ft + 28 ft) = 2 * 68 ft = 136 ft

Next, to find out how many 50-foot rope sections are required, you divide the total perimeter by the length of each rope section:

Number of sections needed = Total perimeter / Length of one section = 136 ft / 50 ft.

This results in 2.72. Since you cannot have a fraction of a rope section, you round up to the nearest whole number, which is 3 sections.

Thus, while the calculations lead to the conclusion that 3 sections are needed, it’s important to consider that one section can’t typically be divided or used partially. The reasoning here ensures that each section is maximally utilized and accounts for any extra needed to secure the area adequately. Therefore