Real-Life Math -- Solution
Writers always have to work with limits. In print, there's only
so much space to work with. In other media, there are other considerations.
"In
radio, we are more concerned about the time it takes," says copywriter Bernadine
Ward. "We either have 10-, 30- or 60-second spots. But these limitations are
similar to space limitations that there are in print."
Now, about your
ad. In Part A, you are trying to figure out how many words will fit into the
space given by the copy editor, and find out how many words will fit into
this space. These are the calculations you should make:
Part A
3
columns x 4 inches = 12 inches
You are given 12 inches for your
story.
12 inches x 35 words per inch= 420 words
The copy
editor has room for 420 words in your story. You have already written 750
words.
750 - 420 = 330 words
You will have to cut 330
words from your story.
Finally, you cut down the story
and begin polishing up the copy you are planning to send in for the ad. The
copy editor comes by your desk again, and reminds you of the photo that is
to accompany the ad.
With the copy you have already written, you estimate
that you will have room for a photo that is 7.5 inches long. These are the
calculations you make to find out how wide the photo can be:
Part
B
The original photo is 10 inches long by 4 inches
wide. The reduced photo will be 7.5 inches by what width?
10 inches
original length / 7.5 inches new length x 100 = 75
The reduced photo
will be 75 per cent of the original size.
4 inches original width
x 0.75 = 3
The reduced width will be 3 inches.
Now
that you have the reduced picture in place, you see that you have 2 extra
inches of space to fill with writing. This is how you calculate how many words
you will have to add back into your copy to fill the space.
Part
C
You have room for 2 more inches of text.
2
inches x 35 words per inch = 70 words
You'll have to add 70 words
back into your story.