A 2% drop in 12 inches equals:

To understand the problem of determining a 2% drop in 12 inches, we first need to calculate what 2% of 12 inches is. To find 2% of a number, you multiply the number by 0.02.

Calculating this:

• 12 inches × 0.02 = 0.24 inches

This result represents the amount of drop that corresponds to 2%. To express 0.24 inches in terms of fractions, it can also be approximated as 1/4 inch, since 0.25 inches is commonly referred to as a quarter of an inch. Given that 0.24 inches is very close to 0.25 inches, it can be simplified to mean approximately a quarter of an inch.

This reasoning leads us to understand why the correct answer aligns with the choice indicating 1/4 inch. This represents the proportionate drop in relation to the original 12 inches, illustrating the concept of percentages in practical scenarios such as landscape grading or drainage considerations.