Answer:
The closest distance between the houses in feet is 39 feet
Step-by-step explanation:
Distance between the houses in metres is 12 metres.
<em>Essentially, the problem is asking us to convert this distance to feet using the scale ratio that we are given.</em>
The scale ratio is
4 meters = 13 feet.
1 meter = x feet
by cross multiplying, we have that x = 13/4 feet
We now know how long 1 meter is in feet using the scale we were given
We can now convert the 12 meters to feet.
1 meter = 13/4 feet
12 meters = x feet

Therefore, the closest distance between the houses in feet is 39 feet