Problem of the Week - Algebra and Up - Jan. 3, 2021 to Jan. 9, 2021

Algebra and Up: 

Question: Darcy is decorating her bedroom and sketches a floor plan to a 1:12 scale. What is the area of the surface of a desk that is 31/2 inches long and 21/4 inches wide on Darcy's sketch? 

Answer: 77/8 square feet

Solution:  If the scale is 1:12, then 1 inch on the sketch represents 12 inches in the real world. So, an inch on the map is a foot in real life. The surface of the desk therefore has an area of 31/2 × 21/4 = 77/8 square feet.