Question

You need to lay communications cable around the perimeter of three offices, each 8' by 10'. How much cable do you need?

Answer 1

Does the cable need to surround each office?

3(2*8 + 2*10) = ?

Or around<I>all</I> the offices?

2(3*8 + 10) = ?

or

2(3*10 + 8) = ?

depending on the arrangement of the offices.