Mathematics for Carpentry and the Construction Trades

This text is intended to meet the needs of a two-semester course for students of carpentry and building construction. Throughout, the emphasis has been on simplicity. Illustrated problems include step-by-step explanations of their solution. Explanations have been presented in summary form with the necessary steps highlighted for easy identification. Drawings and photographs have been included to clarify the particular subject under discussion. At the beginning of each chapter is a captioned photograph of a house under construction, showing its development from the concept, through the various phases, to completion. Chapters 1 through 10 cover the fundamental mathematics necessary to a broad range of skills. Although problems in these chapters apply to a variety of areas, the emphasis has been given to applications in the building construction field. We suggest that calculators not be used in the first sections in Chapters 1 through 3 to allow students to increase their mathematical skills in some basic areas. Thereafter, calculator usage is encouraged, with emphasis on efficiency and accuracy. Chapters 11 through 26 cover matters of direct concern to the builder. The sequence of topics in these chapters follows the logical construction process insofar as is practical. Phases of construction normally relegated to subcontractors (including masonry, plumbing, heating, and electrical, among others) have not been covered. The occurrence of these phases of construction is of concern to the primary contractor, and their sequencing is alluded to in a summary chapter; however, we have made no attempt to include mathematics related to these areas. Although this text is not intended to be a complete "how-to" manual with respect to building techniques, a certain amount of instruction has been included. In many areas of building, an understanding of the relevant mathematics is coupled with an understanding of how the construction is done. Furthermore, efficiency and accuracy (both highly desirable goals for the builder and estimator) are best achieved when an understanding of building methods has been reached. Users of this text will find the topic sequence logical and explanations clear and concise. The problems are realistic and practical and typical of the types of calculations that builders can expect to encounter in practice. Answers to the odd-numbered exercises have been included in the back of the book. This text is the result of the depth of experience we bring to users of this material. Our extensive backgrounds as teachers of applied mathematics and practitioners in the building construction field should make this book valuable to its users. We wish to thank the reviewers of this edition for their helpful comments: Ellie Hein, Associate Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin; Madan Mehta, University of Texas at Arlington; and Lester Stackpole, Eastern Maine Technical College. Finally, we wish to express our appreciation to Sally Webster and Daisy Bright, both accomplished teachers of mathematics. Their identification of errors and suggestions for changes have been a valuable contribution to this effort. A.P. Webster K.B. JudyWebster, Alfred P. is the author of 'Mathematics for Carpentry and the Construction Trades', published 2001 under ISBN 9780131633056 and ISBN 0131633058.