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Post Info TOPIC: Maths question for quotation


Master Book-keeper

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Maths question for quotation


As part of admin duties for one of my clients I regularly do quotations.

I normally quote for fencing per linear metre, and include £1.50 for concrete.  The holes are usually 300mm x 300mm x 600mm deep.  These particular holes will be 600mm x 600mm x 1200mm  

I calculate this to be 8 x the volume, is that right?  Ergo I should be adding an extra £10.50 per metre?  



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John 

 

 

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Hi John,

yes, I get it to £12 (£10.50 extra) so same as you.

For info, rather than divide 432 by 54 to get 8* I went the other way of calculating it out. i.e.

300*300*600 = 54000000
600*600*1200 = 4320000000

(£1.50/54)*432 = £12-£1.50 = £10.50 increase

HTH,

Shaun.



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Shaun

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Master Book-keeper

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Thanks Shaun, it's good to see my school years weren't entirely wasted biggrin

It's such a big leap up I just wanted to double check before quoting.

I do use your method sometimes but never thought to on this occasion.



-- Edited by Leger on Tuesday 26th of July 2016 12:44:38 PM

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John 

 

 

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No probs at all John. biggrin

you're right. joe bloggs on the street would look at those numbers and think that it's twice the size, not eight times.

Also the new figures take no acount of the additional weight involved which will affect milage on the works van / truck or the fact that the additional weight may require additional workers and possible machinery hire to move / install the posts.

Good luck with getting to a final quote but I would expect it to be considerably more than merely multiplying up the size for the materials.

all the best,

Shaun.



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Shaun

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Master Book-keeper

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Thanks Shaun, I have factored the additional costs in the overall meterage, but it's a good point.



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John 

 

 

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Hi John,

Probably overthinking this, but does it not all depend on the hole to pole to cement ratios?

For example, if the pole that fits into the hole sits in the bottom of the hole with virtually no cement below it and with a clearance of 30mm at each side you'd have this:

 

Hole30030060054000000 
Pole24024060034560000 
Cement (Hole - Pole)  19440000 
     Ratio
Hole60060012004320000008
Pole540540120034992000010.125
Cement (Hole - Pole)  820800004.222222

Just posing the question as to whether all the pertinent factors double with the bigger hole.biggrin

Regards,



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Ian

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Master Book-keeper

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Do you buy ready mixed concrete? Or make your own? What about the sand to cement ratio?

Dont forget the wear and tear on the cement mixer, although when I did my back garden with my Dad he made me wash it out every night so that you could eat your dinner of it......mustve cost me a FORTUNE in water charges, but at least we sold the cement mixer for the s same price it was bought for. lol

Machinery to install posts - what? We live in the hardened north!!

How much do they charge to deliver and install the fence panels? Just wondering as I need some and cannot be bothered lugging 6ft panels all the way down my drive this time (I dont need posts/concrete!). Guess I should use someone a bit closer.biggrinbiggrin



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 Joanne 

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Expert

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Ignoring the technical issues about concrete, and going back to the original question and answer.

Quick tip: Make the calculations easier, by dividing all the numbers to start with by the same amount. In this case, they are all multiples of a hundred, so divide them all by 100.

The calculation is then (6x6x12)/(3x3x6) - which gives 8.

Alternatively look at the increase in each dimension. Each is doubled, and there are three of them

2 x 2 x 2 gives ... ?



-- Edited by VinceH on Tuesday 26th of July 2016 07:54:57 PM

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VinceH wrote:

Ignoring the technical issues about concrete, and going back to the original question and answer.

Quick tip: Make the calculations easier, by dividing all the numbers to start with by the same amount. In this case, they are all multiples of a hundred, so divide them all by 100.

The calculation is then (6x6x12)/(3x3x6) - which gives 8.

Alternatively look at the increase in each dimension. Each is doubled, and there are three of them

2 x 2 x 2 gives ... ?



-- Edited by VinceH on Tuesday 26th of July 2016 07:54:57 PM


I did it the other way about 2 x 2 x 2 then your 6 x 6 x 12 way to double check the first. 



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Expert

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Great minds, and all that - and let's face it, mine is truly great! o;)

Although I didn't simplify enough in the first method. There's another level of simplification that makes the calculation really, really easy.

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Master Book-keeper

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Cheshire wrote:

Do you buy ready mixed concrete? Or make your own? What about the sand to cement ratio?

It varies on the job,  this would be ready mixed as it's over 800 metres of fencing.

Dont forget the wear and tear on the cement mixer, although when I did my back garden with my Dad he made me wash it out every night so that you could eat your dinner of it......mustve cost me a FORTUNE in water charges, but at least we sold the cement mixer for the s same price it was bought for. lol

I once suggested a cement mixer to him, but he prefers to hand mix on small jobs and use ready mixed on bigger jobs 

Machinery to install posts - what? We live in the hardened north!!

He's a hardened Northerner lol, he doesn't use machinery!  On this one it'd be worth considering, and save a few quid on labour to boot.


How much do they charge to deliver and install the fence panels? Just wondering as I need some and cannot be bothered lugging 6ft panels all the way down my drive this time (I dont need posts/concrete!). Guess I should use someone a bit closer.biggrinbiggrin

Probably, and he's mainly commercial, the contractor supplies the fencing and he does the installing. if I knew anything about fencing I'd come and do it for you, but I haven't a scoobie smile


 



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John 

 

 

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Master Book-keeper

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Hi Ian, my head hurts even looking at those figures!  Does it mean an increase in cement or a decrease? 

Thanks Vince and Peasie,   I did  it as 60 x 60 x120  but I could have knocked the 0 off thinking about it. I like the 2 x 2 x 2, it's a good check.



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John 

 

 

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Expert

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VinceH wrote:

Great minds, and all that - and let's face it, mine is truly great! o;)

Although I didn't simplify enough in the first method. There's another level of simplification that makes the calculation really, really easy.


Now this is where we find out if great minds DO think alike. Another level of simplification you say.

Some might say divide the original amounts by 300. But I'd divide them by 100 then by 3. Thoughts? 



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Expert

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Correct!

Doing it in stages (i.e. by 100 then by 3 in this case) is neither right nor wrong. Sometimes, it's easier to do it in stages because the greatest level of simplification might not be obvious until you've gone down a step. Or even two.

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Hi John,

I just meant to highlight that the entire hole isn't 100% filled with concrete - it's a little more complicated than that. Presumably the bottom of a post of some sort displaces cement that would otherwise be within the dimensions you mention. It's impossible to answer the more or less question without being given the dimensions of what is inserted into the cement in both scenarios. Sorry. confuse

 



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Ian

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Master Book-keeper

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Hi Ian

Absolutely no need to apologise, 



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