You want to put a 4 inch thick layer of topsoil for a new 14 ft by 18 ft garden. The dirt store sells by the cubic yards. How many cubic yards will you need to order? The store only sells in increments of 1/4 cubic yards.

To calculate how much topsoil you'll need, we start by determining the volume of topsoil required for your garden in cubic feet, then convert it to cubic yards (since the store sells in cubic yards).

### Step-by-Step Calculation:
1. **Garden Dimensions in Feet:**
   - Length: 14 feet
   - Width: 18 feet
   - Depth: 4 inches (which we need to convert to feet)

   Since there are 12 inches in a foot, 4 inches is:
   \[
   4 \text{ inches} = \frac{4}{12} \text{ feet} = 0.3333 \text{ feet}
   \]

2. **Volume in Cubic Feet:**
   The volume $ V $ of topsoil needed is calculated by multiplying the length, width, and depth:
   \[
   V = 14 \times 18 \times 0.3333 = 83.99 \text{ cubic feet}
   \]

3. **Convert to Cubic Yards:**
   There are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard, so to convert the volume to cubic yards:
   \[
   \text{Volume in cubic yards} = \frac{83.99}{27} \approx 3.11 \text{ cubic yards}
   \]

4. **Rounding to the Nearest 1/4 Cubic Yard:**
   The store sells in increments of 1/4 cubic yard, so we round 3.11 to the nearest 1/4:
   \[
   3.11 \text{ cubic yards} \approx 3.25 \text{ cubic yards}
   \]

### Conclusion:
You need to order **3.25 cubic yards** of topsoil.

Would you like further details or have any questions?

### Related Questions:
1. How do you calculate the area of the garden?
2. What are other units of measure for topsoil and how do they convert?
3. How does the depth of soil affect plant growth?
4. If the garden were circular, how would you calculate the topsoil needed?
5. How much would it cost if the price is $40 per cubic yard?

**Tip:** Always measure carefully before purchasing materials to avoid ordering too much or too little!

Learn how to calculate the amount of topsoil required for a 14x18 ft garden with a 4-inch depth. This problem involves volume calculation and unit conversion from cubic feet to cubic yards. Perfect for students in Grades 6-8.

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