Question

Jerry has a miniature model of a boat. He knows that the boat is 3 3/4 inches wide and 5 1/2 inches long. What is the actual length of the boat if the actual width is 15 feet?

Answer 1

Width of the miniature model = $3\frac{3}{4}$ inches

Length of the miniature model = $5\frac{1}{2}$ inches

The actual width of the boat = 15 feet

Let us find the actual length of the boat.

Write it in a proportion form.

width of model : length of model : : width of actual : length of actual

$\Rightarrow 3\frac{3}{4}:5\frac{1}{2}::15:x$

$\Rightarrow\frac{15}{4}:\frac{11}{2}::15:x$

$\Rightarrow\frac{\frac{15}{4}}{\frac{11}{2}} =\frac{15}{x}$

Do cross multiplication.

$\Rightarrow{\frac{15}{4}x =15\times\frac{11}{2}$

$\Rightarrow{\frac{15}{4}x =\frac{165}{2}$

$\Rightarrow x =\frac{165}{2}\times{\frac{4}{15}$

⇒ x = 22

Hence the actual length of the boat is 22 feet.