A 2.0-in-thick slab is 10.0 in wide and 12.0 ft long. Thickness is to be reduced in three steps in a hot rolling operation. Each step will reduce the slab to 75 % of its previous thickness. It is expected that for this metal and reduction, the slah will widen by 3% in each step. If the entry speed of the slab in the first step is 40 ft/min, and roll speed is the same for the three steps, determine:
(a) length, and
(b) exit velocity of the slab after the final reduction.