A HIM department currently uses 2,540 linear filing inches and plans to add 400 expansion inches. If each new unit has six shelves and each shelf is 36 inches, how many new shelving units are needed?

• A. 13 units
• B. 14 units
• C. 12 units
• D. 15 units

Answer: (B)

Think in terms of total capacity needed and how much each shelving unit provides. Start with the current capacity and the planned expansion: 2,540 inches + 400 inches = 2,940 inches of filing space needed. Each shelving unit has six shelves, and each shelf is 36 inches, so one unit holds 6 × 36 = 216 inches. Divide the total requirement by the capacity per unit: 2,940 ÷ 216 ≈ 13.61. Since you can’t have a fraction of a shelving unit, you round up to 14 units. As a check, 14 units provide 14 × 216 = 3,024 inches, which covers the 2,940 inches needed, while 13 units would only yield 2,808 inches.