Question

The number of washers 3/32 inch thick that can be cut from a piece of stock 25 1/2 inches long, allowing 1/16 inch for waste for each cut is

a. 160
b. 163
c. 260
d. 272
e. 408

please answer and explain

Answer 1

For one washer you must include the waste and the width so..
(3/32)+(1/16)=5/32 or 0.15625

You have 25.5 inches of pipe so how many washers can be taken from it..
25.5/0.15625=163.2

Rounding to the lower number as it will only make .2 of the 164th washer means b is the answer

Answer 2

number of cuts = (n-1)
amount wasted = 1/16 * (n-1)

amount total = (3/32) n + (1/16) n - 1/16
so
25 16/32 = 5 n/32 -2/32

816/32 +2/32 = 5 n/32
818 = 5 n
n = 163.6 so 163