In a steel angle notation L 3-1/2 x 3-1/2 x 1/4, what does the 1/4 represent?

In a steel angle notation L 3-1/2 x 3-1/2 x 1/4, what does the 1/4 represent?

• A. The leg length
• B. The other leg length
• C. The overall width
• D. The thickness of the legs

Answer: (D)

In steel angle notation, the three numbers describe two leg lengths and the thickness of the material. The first two numbers are the lengths of the two legs of the angle (each leg is 3-1/2 inches long in this case). The last number is the thickness of the legs—how thick the metal is, measured in inches. So 1/4 in this example is the thickness of the legs, not their length or the overall width. This thickness is consistent for both legs of the angle. If the legs were unequal, you’d still have a final dimension representing the thickness.

In steel angle notation, the three numbers describe two leg lengths and the thickness of the material. The first two numbers are the lengths of the two legs of the angle (each leg is 3-1/2 inches long in this case). The last number is the thickness of the legs—how thick the metal is, measured in inches. So 1/4 in this example is the thickness of the legs, not their length or the overall width. This thickness is consistent for both legs of the angle. If the legs were unequal, you’d still have a final dimension representing the thickness.