Ametal part for a machine is now 5.85 inches long. the specifications call for it to be 5.72 inches long, with a tolerance of 0.02 inch. by how much can a machinist decrease the length of the part?

If the part needs to be 5.72 inches long, with a tolerance of 0,02 inches (I cannot read the symbol before 0.02, so will assume it's meant to be +/-), the part length must be in the range 5.70 to 5.74. If the part is now 5.85 inches, the most it can be shortened by is 0.15 inches.