Answer: 10 inches × 14 inches
Work:
length = x inches
width = x - 4 inches
perimeter = 2(l+w)
48 = 2[(x)+(x - 4)]
48 = 2(2x - 4)
24 = 2x - 4
28 = 2x
14 = x
length = x inches = 14 inches
width = x - 4 inches = 14 - 4 = 10 inches
You are adding s^2 to your 128 ft^2. s^2 is a common representation of a square. So you could think of it as adding an area of a square of side "s" to your deck.
So one way of drawing it is to draw a rectangle with area 128 ft^2 and attaching a square to one of its side. The square that is attached has a side lenght of "s."
3/4 foot is 9 inches, and 4 1/2 feet is 54 inches, so, 54/9 makes exactly 6 pieces of string.
