Jessica S.

asked • 09/23/16

Word problem question having to do with measuring

A matte is to be cut and placed over five small square pictures before framing. Each picture is 5 in. wide, and the matte frame is 37 in. wide, as shown in the figure. If the pictures are to be equally spaced (including the space on the left and right edges), how wide is the matte between them?
 
(I don't know how to solve this problem. Could you give me the answer and tell me step by step how you figured it out)

Leo C.

Hi Jessica,
 
The answer should be 2 inches between each square (assuming they are aligning horizontally/vertically in one row or column before framing). Let me explain why.
 
If they are aligned in a straight line without spacing between them, the total length/width of the small square pictures would be 25 in. However, since the pictures are spaced out over the 37 in. wide matte frame, there is 37-25=12 in. of empty space(i.e. the total added width of the matte between the pictures in 12 in).
 
Now imagine that you had 5 pictures framed on the matte taking into account the separate spaces in between and on both sides. There would be 6 spaces; and since the question mentions that these spaces have to be equal in width, each space would be 12+6=2 in.
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09/23/16

1 Expert Answer

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Nathan B. answered • 09/23/16

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So we have five 5-inch wide pictures.
5 * 5 = 25
This pictures themselves will take 25 inches
 
37 - 25 = 12
There are 12 inches left to act as a border.
If I may draw a diagram...:
 
| 1 [] 2 [] 3 [] 4 [] 5 [] 6 |
There are a total of six spaces between the squares and the matte edges.
12 / 6 = 2
 
So there are 2 inches of matte space between each square and edge.
 
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