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ASVAB · Applied Geometry

A rectangular room is 15 feet long and 12 feet wide. How many square feet of carpet are needed to cover the floor?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

180 sq ft

  1. A 108 sq ft
  2. B 54 sq ft
  3. C 180 sq ft
  4. D 27 sq ft

Why this is the answer

Area = length × width = 15 × 12 = 180 square feet. Carpet covers a flat surface, so you need area, not perimeter. The distractor 54 sq ft is the perimeter (15 + 12 + 15 + 12 = 54) mislabelled as area, and 27 is just 15 + 12. Always ask whether the question wants a length (perimeter), a surface (area) or a space (volume) before picking the formula.
Source: ASVAB AR, Geometry

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About this topic: Applied Geometry

Applied geometry on the ASVAB means perimeter, area and volume of everyday shapes — carpet for a room, fencing for a yard, water in a tank. The formulas are simple; the trap is choosing area when the question needs perimeter, or forgetting units. This is one of 9 Arithmetic Reasoning questions on applied geometry, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our ASVAB exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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