Laying the Foundation:

CONSTRUCTION MATH
Compiled by Judy Amico and Beth Arman
Construction Center of Excellence
October 2005
With submissions by:
Pat Averbeck, Math instructor, with Walt Bubelis, Horticulture instructor, Dave
Jacobson, Construction Management instructor, and Ed van der Bogart,
Construction Management instructor, Edmonds Community College
Steve Baker, King County Carpenters Apprenticeship coordinator, Renton
Technical College
Mary Bolds, Adult Basic Skills instructor, Tacoma Community College
Jim Coan, Surveying instructor, Renton Technical College
Rick Ducharme and Lisa Grothen, Job Skills for Trade & Industry instructors,
Renton Technical College
Spencer Hinkle, Building Construction Technology co-department chair/
instructor, Portland Community College
Steve Ignac, Lathing, Acoustical, and Drywall Systems Apprenticeship
coordinator, Renton Technical College
Jim Johnson, Commercial Building and Industrial Engineering instructor, Renton
Technical College
Mark Maher, Western Washington Cement Masons Apprenticeship coordinator,
South Seattle Community College
The National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee for the Electrical
Industry (used in International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers National
Electrical Contractors Association Electrical Apprenticeship programs in the State
of Washington)
Don Olson, Painting, Decorating, and Drywall Apprenticeship instructor, South
Seattle Community College
Vince Rainier, Pile Drivers Apprenticeship coordinator, Renton Technical
College
Royal Robinson, Plasterers Apprenticeship coordinator/instructor, Renton
Technical College
With special thanks to the following businesses for their support:
Lowes Home Improvements
Dunn Lumber
Nordstrom
3000 NE 4th Street
Renton, WA 98056
(425) 235-2352, ext. 2217
www.RTC.edu/CommunityResources/CCE

Laying the Foundation:

CONSTRUCTION MATH
Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................1
Resources for Construction Math ........................................................................................3
Sample Activities and Descriptions by Construction Subject Matter:
Surveying .................................................................................................................5
Soil Excavation ........................................................................................................9
Cost Calculations ...................................................................................................23
Reading a Tape Measure........................................................................................35
Concrete Formwork (Pile Drivers) ........................................................................39
Steel........................................................................................................................47
Concrete Volume (Cement Masons)......................................................................49
Carpentry................................................................................................................53
Electrical ................................................................................................................63
Drywall Layout ......................................................................................................89
Plastering Layout ...................................................................................................96
Painting ..................................................................................................................98
Carpet Laying and Tile Setting ..............................................................................99
Roofing ................................................................................................................105
Building Engineering/Electrical...........................................................................131
Sample Activities and Descriptions by Math Subject Matter:
Arithmetic
o Percents ..................................................................................................9, 99
o Fractions.....................................................................................................35
o Conversions....................................................................................39, 53, 99
Algebra
o Solving for Costs .................................................................................23, 99
o Solving Equations ..................................................................47, 53, 63, 131
o Ratio and Proportion ..................................................................................63
Geometry
o Area, Perimeter, Square Feet, and Volume..........39, 49, 53, 89, 96, 99, 105
o Coordinate Geometry...................................................................................5

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Resources for Construction Math

Websites, Videos, and books

Surveying

Surveying

Surveying

Surveying

Soil Excavation

Soil Excavation

10

Soil Excavation

11

Soil Excavation

12

Soil Excavation

13

Soil Excavation

14

Soil Excavation

15

Soil Excavation

16

Soil Excavation

17

Soil Excavation

18

Soil Excavation

19

Soil Excavation

20

Soil Excavation

21

Soil Excavation

22

Cost Calculations

23

Cost Calculations

24

Cost Calculations

25

Cost Calculations

26

Cost Calculations

27

Cost Calculations

28

Cost Calculations

29

Cost Calculations

30

Cost Calculations

31

Cost Calculations

32

Cost Calculations

33

Cost Calculations

34

Reading a Tape Measure

35

Reading a Tape Measure

36

Reading a Tape Measure

37

Reading a Tape Measure

38

Concrete Formwork

39

Concrete Formwork

40

Concrete Formwork

41

Concrete Formwork

42

Concrete Formwork

43

Concrete Formwork

44

Concrete Formwork

45

Concrete Formwork

46

Steel

47

Steel

48

Concrete Volume

49

Concrete Volume

50

Concrete Volume

51

Concrete Volume

52

Carpentry

53

Carpentry

54

Carpentry

55

Carpentry

56

Carpentry

57

Carpentry

58

Carpentry

59

Carpentry

60

Carpentry

61

Carpentry

62

Electrical

63

Electrical

64

Electrical

65

Electrical

66

Electrical

67

Electrical

68

Electrical

69

Electrical

70

Electrical

71

Electrical

72

Electrical

73

Electrical

74

Electrical

75

Electrical

76

Electrical

77

Electrical

78

Electrical

79

Electrical

80

Electrical

81

Electrical

82

Electrical

83

Electrical

84

Electrical

85

Electrical

86

Electrical

87

Electrical

88

Drywall Layout

89

Drywall Layout

90

Drywall Layout

91

Drywall Layout

92

Drywall Layout

93

Drywall Layout

7) Multiply b X 2 = C which is the length of all sides

94

Drywall Layout

C = 2b

95

Plaster Layout

96

Plaster Layout

97

Painting

98

Carpet Laying and Tile Setting

99

Carpet Laying and Tile Setting

100

Carpet Laying and Tile Setting

101

Carpet Laying and Tile Setting

102

Carpet Laying and Tile Setting

103

Carpet Laying and Tile Setting

104

Roofing

105

Roofing

106

Roofing

107

Roofing

108

Roofing

109

Roofing

110

Roofing

111

Roofing

112

Roofing

113

Roofing

114

Roofing

115

Roofing

116

Roofing

117

Roofing

118

Roofing

119

Roofing

120

Roofing

121

Roofing

122

Roofing

123

Roofing

124

Roofing

125

Roofing

126

Roofing

127

Roofing

128

Roofing

129

Roofing

130

Building Engineering / Electrical

E
R

131

Building Engineering / Electrical

132

Building Engineering / Electrical

133

Building Engineering / Electrical

134

Building Engineering / Electrical

135

Building Engineering / Electrical

136

Building Engineering / Electrical

137

Building Engineering / Electrical

138

Building Engineering / Electrical

139

Building Engineering / Electrical

140

Building Engineering / Electrical

141

Building Engineering / Electrical

142

Building Engineering / Electrical

143

Building Engineering / Electrical

144