Dividing Up A Rectangle

[Beaupeep]

I'm a bit rusty on maths. I need to work out how to divide any given rectangular shape into any given number of equidistant sections. I'm thinking of joists, for example in a roof - if I need to put 11 joists in the rectangular shape, how do I work out the spacing between each each joist (I understand the figure will be the distance between joint centres). Thank you

[ToraToraTora]

if there are 11 joists then divide by 12 and centre each joist at a twelfth of the distance.

[Ellipsis]

Take the distance and divide that by (number of joists plus one).

So if the distance was 24 feet, and you wanted 11 joists, it is

24/(11+1) = 24/12 = 2 feet.

[Buenchico]

Maybe I've not properly understood your question but, as I read it, putting 11 joists in will divide the rectangle up into 12 'compartments'. Therefore you simple need to divide the length of the rectangle by 12 (rather than 11) to find the distance between adjacent joints (or, more accurately, 'joint centres')

[douglas9401]

I think I'd find the middle and work from there to left and right.

[Zacs-Master]

I’d use this:
https://www.free-online-calculator-use.com/even-spacing-calculator.html

[ToraToraTora]

17:55 which is exactly what I said in answer no 1.

[ToraToraTora]

17:55 "I think I'd find the middle and work from there to left and right" - then they are unlikely to end up equidistant.

[Beaupeep]

Thank you all for your replies. It was just what I needed!

[Atheist]

If you're doing it for real, to lay out a real roofing job, then just measure up and divide by 12.
As a general method, you can do it on paper, as a scale drawing.
Basically, you draw the length of the line to be divided, to a certain scale. e.g. a twenty-four inch line to represent a twenty-four foot roof. Then you draw a (e.g.) 36 inch line on a bit of paper and mark it off at 3 inch intervals to divide it into 12 sections. Pin one end of your 36 inch line to one end of your 24 inch line, and swivel it so that... I can't do the rest in words. Maybe you'll see what I,mgetting at. Good luck.

[Beaupeep]

Thank you Atheist.