Question

A builder needs three pipes of different lengths. The pipes are feet long, feet long, and feet long.

How many feet of piping is required in all? (Hint: Try dividing each radicand by 6.)

feet
feet
feet
feet

Answer 1

Let the lengths be √150, √54, and √96. Divide each radicand by 6:

√150 = √(25·6) = 5√6
√54 = √(9·6) = 3√6
√96 = √(16·6) = 4√6

Total = 5√6 + 3√6 + 4√6 = 12√6 feet.

So the pipes are 5√6 ft, 3√6 ft, 4√6 ft, and altogether 12√6 ft.