For laying 1.5 miles of water main, how many 20-foot sections of pipe will it take?

To determine how many 20-foot sections of pipe are needed to lay 1.5 miles of water main, it’s important to first convert the distance from miles to feet. There are 5,280 feet in a mile. Therefore, to convert 1.5 miles into feet, you multiply:

1.5 miles × 5,280 feet/mile = 7,920 feet.

Next, you'll need to find out how many 20-foot sections fit into 7,920 feet. This is done by dividing the total number of feet by the length of each section:

7,920 feet ÷ 20 feet/section = 396 sections.

This calculation shows that a total of 396 sections of 20-foot pipe are necessary to cover the entire distance of 1.5 miles. Understanding the conversion from miles to feet and then applying basic division to find the number of sections illustrates the importance of dimensional analysis and ensures accurate planning for laying a water main.