The math
A mile is 5,280 feet. An eighth is one part in eight: 5,280 ÷ 8 = 660. Because a mile is 8 furlongs, one‑eighth of a mile lands exactly on one furlong — no rounding.
| Distance | In feet |
|---|---|
| 1⁄16 mile | 330 ft½ furlong |
| 1⁄8 mile | 660 ftone furlong |
| 1⁄4 mile | 1,320 ft= 2 furlongs |
| 3⁄8 mile | 1,980 ft |
| 1⁄2 mile | 2,640 ft= 4 furlongs |
| 5⁄8 mile | 3,300 ft |
| 3⁄4 mile | 3,960 ft |
| 7⁄8 mile | 4,620 ft |
| 1 mile | 5,280 ft= 8 furlongs |
A mile is 5,280 feet. An eighth is one part in eight: 5,280 ÷ 8 = 660. Because a mile is 8 furlongs, one‑eighth of a mile lands exactly on one furlong — no rounding.
A furlong was the length of a ploughed furrow in a medieval field — 40 rods of 16½ feet, or 660 ft. Horse racing still measures in furlongs, which is why a "six‑furlong" sprint is exactly three‑quarters of a mile.