The term "linear foot" is often used to refer to the measurement of items having length as a primary cost-determining characteristic, but also having other important characteristics. It is the distance along a particular line or in a particular direction with respect to a product.
For example, the price of a fence may be quoted in terms of cost per linear foot. To find the total cost of a fence of a particular type, you multiply the cost per linear foot by the length of the fence. You are actually buying a particular design of rails and posts and fence material and installation labor, but you pay by the foot.
Other construction materials, such as wire, cable, or rope, pipe or hose may also be sold by the linear foot. Price may vary according to material, construction, diameter, temperature rating, strength, or other characteristics. In some sandwich shops, sandwiches are sold by the linear foot (or linear inch).
Lumber may be sold by the "board foot" (nominally, 144 cubic inches). However, a specific size of lumber ("2x4" framing material, for example) may be sold by the linear foot.
Some are familiar with "yard goods" being sold by the yard. The same idea is at work. When buying such material, one needs to know the nominal width as well as the length, as the overall area is important when the material is put to its intended use.
A regular foot is a measure of linear distance. No other characteristics are associated with it.
For example, the price of a fence may be quoted in terms of cost per linear foot. To find the total cost of a fence of a particular type, you multiply the cost per linear foot by the length of the fence. You are actually buying a particular design of rails and posts and fence material and installation labor, but you pay by the foot.
Other construction materials, such as wire, cable, or rope, pipe or hose may also be sold by the linear foot. Price may vary according to material, construction, diameter, temperature rating, strength, or other characteristics. In some sandwich shops, sandwiches are sold by the linear foot (or linear inch).
Lumber may be sold by the "board foot" (nominally, 144 cubic inches). However, a specific size of lumber ("2x4" framing material, for example) may be sold by the linear foot.
Some are familiar with "yard goods" being sold by the yard. The same idea is at work. When buying such material, one needs to know the nominal width as well as the length, as the overall area is important when the material is put to its intended use.
A regular foot is a measure of linear distance. No other characteristics are associated with it.
