What should the length of the diagonal read on the carpenter's tape if squaring forms for a concrete substation pad measuring 62 feet by 21 feet?

To determine the diagonal length for squaring forms of a rectangular area, you can use the Pythagorean theorem. The theorem states that in a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse (the diagonal in this case) is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.

For a substation pad measuring 62 feet by 21 feet, you can denote the length and width as follows:

• Length (A) = 62 feet

• Width (B) = 21 feet

You would calculate the diagonal (D) using the formula:

[ D = \sqrt{A^2 + B^2} ]

Substituting in the values:

[ D = \sqrt{(62)^2 + (21)^2} ]

[ D = \sqrt{3844 + 441} ]

[ D = \sqrt{4285} ]

[ D \approx 65.5 \text{ feet} ]

To convert 0.5 feet into inches, you multiply by 12 (as there are 12 inches in a foot):

[ 0.5 \times 12 = 6 \text{ inches} ]

So the diagonal length