Question

Lobster fishers in Maine often use spherical buoys to mark their lobster traps. Every year the buoys must be repainted. An average buoy has a 12 inch diameter, and an average fisher has about 500 buoys. A quart of marine paint covers 175 ft squared. How many quarts of paint does an average fisher need each year?

Answer 1

Let's change the inches to feet.

SA = 4 * 3.14 * 0.5^2
SA = 6.28 sq. feet

(500 * 6.28)/175 = 17.94 = 18 quarts

Answer 2

area of 1 buoy: pi d^2 = 144pi
so, quarts of paint:

q = 144pi * 500 / 175

Answer 3

oops - Go with Ms Sue - I forgot to change inches to feet.

Answer 4

And I forgot to square the radius.

SA = 4 * 3.14 * 0.5^2

SA = 3.14 square feet

(500 * 3.14)/175 = 8.97 = 9 quarts

Answer 5

Thanks!

Answer 6

You're welcome. Sorry about the mixup.