North Carolina Building Contractor License Practice Exam

How many board feet are in (48) 2 x 6 x 8's?

1. 128

2. 384

3. 256

4. 144

The correct answer is: 384

To calculate the number of board feet in lumber, you can use the formula: Board Feet = (Thickness in inches × Width in inches × Length in feet) / 12. In this case, you are dealing with 48 pieces of lumber that are each 2 inches thick, 6 inches wide, and 8 feet long. First, convert all dimensions into the appropriate units for the formula: - Thickness: 2 inches - Width: 6 inches - Length: 8 feet (this is already in the correct unit) Now apply the formula for one piece of lumber: Board Feet per piece = (2 × 6 × 8) / 12 = (96) / 12 = 8 board feet. Since there are 48 pieces: Total Board Feet = 48 × 8 = 384 board feet. This shows that option B, which indicates there are 384 board feet in 48 pieces of 2 x 6 x 8 lumber, is indeed the correct choice. Understanding the calculation helps in estimating materials for projects, which is crucial for managing costs and ensuring the right amount of wood is purchased for construction needs.