Question

1. jerry built a table with a square top. the perimeter of the tabletop is 18 feet. he knows that the side length of the table is 3, 3\frac{1}{4}, 4, or 4\frac{1}{2} feet. use the equation 18 = 4s, where s is the side length of the table, to determine the side length of the tabletop. explain how you found your answer.

Explanation:

Step1: Solve the equation for s

We have the equation \( 18 = 4s \). To solve for \( s \), we divide both sides of the equation by 4. So, \( s=\frac{18}{4} \). Simplifying \( \frac{18}{4} \), we get \( s = 4\frac{1}{2} \) (since \( \frac{18}{4}=\frac{9}{2}=4\frac{1}{2} \)).

Step2: Verify the solution

We can check by plugging \( s = 4\frac{1}{2} \) back into the perimeter formula for a square, \( P = 4s \). So, \( 4\times4\frac{1}{2}=4\times\frac{9}{2}=18 \), which matches the given perimeter.

Answer:

The side length of the tabletop is \( 4\frac{1}{2} \) feet.