Question

For an occasion a table cloth is to be made for a circular table $3$ feet in diameter. The finished tablecloth needs to hang down $5$ inches over the edge of the table all the way around. To finish the edge of the tablecloth, a tailor folds under and sews down $1$ inch of the material all around the edge. He uses a single piece of rectangular fabric that is $60$ inches wide. Find the shortest possible length of fabric, in inches, that he should use to make the tablecloth without putting any separate pieces of fabric together?

• A. $15$
• B. $24$
• C. $30$
• D. $42$
• E. $48$

Answer 1

Answer: (E)

$48$

Diameter of table $=3$ feet $=36$ inches

Length required to hang down $=5$ inches

Sewing length $=1$ inches

Additional length required $=5+1=6$ inches

$\therefore$ Radius of circular fabric $=$ $\frac{36}{2}+6$ $=24$ inches

Therefore shortest length of fabric $=24$$\times$$2=48$ inches