Real-Life Math -- Solution
As a bricklayer, you're not fazed by this math problem. That's
because you polished up your math skills in your training program, and you
use math on the job every day.
"Math is an extremely important skill
that the bricklayer will make constant use of during the regular workday,"
says Lou Mascarin of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers.
Bricklayers
use a range of mathematics on the job. For example, they need to measure in
both metric and imperial systems. They need to be able to measure accurately,
so that doors and windows are laid out in accordance with the blueprints.
Bricklayers
also need to be able to estimate. For example, they need to be able to estimate
the number of units needed to complete a wall.
Now, back to that math
problem.
The Flue
30 x 27 = 810 square
inches
1/10th is 0.1
0.1 x 810 = 81.0 square inches
Your
flue must be no smaller than that.
The Shed
Perimeter
is 40 feet
Height is 12 feet
40 x 12 = 480 square feet
This
is the area of bricks you will need.
The bricks you are using are 8/9ths
of a square foot. Written as a decimal, that's 0.89 square feet.
There
are 2 ways you can do this:
If "a" is the number of bricks you need:
480
= a bricks
or 480 = a x 8/9
4,320 = a x 8
540 = a
So,
you'll need about 540 bricks for the shed.
Here's another
way to solve it:
480 = a bricks
or 480 = a x 0.89
480
/ 0.89 = a
539.33 = a
or pretty close to 540 bricks.
The
better your math skills, the more options you'll have in your career.
"You don't need the calculus, but you need your basic math," says bricklayer
Bob Ahlers. He's the president of a masonry company. "And we sometimes deal
with angles and stuff, so a high school geometry class would not be unreasonable...
Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing is an absolute requirement if
you're going to do anything but just be a bricklayer [down the road].
"You
have to have square feet, and so many bricks per square foot, and that type
of thing," Ahlers adds. "If you're running the job, you're responsible for
ordering all your own materials and things, and so basic math is important."
"Bricklayers use math all of the time," says bricklayer Ken Rutley. "They
must be able to read measuring tapes and be able to do some simple math while
they are working on the wall. More advanced math is needed as soon as they
are moved into a position where they [must] read a blueprint, like algebra
and trig. Reading a blueprint is an extremely important skill to learn if
they want to move up into a higher position in a masonry company."