1. 4 3/4 feet = 19/4 feet
2 2/5 feet=12/5 feet.
multiplying them together yields
[tex] \frac{19}{4} * \frac{12}{5} =[/tex]
[tex]= \frac{57}{5} = 11.4 ft^{2} [/tex]
Part 2:
11.4 ft^2 - 4 1/2 ft^2=
11.4-4.5=6.9 ft^2 = 69/10 ft^2 left after you subtract the decoration in the middle
Now you're trying to find now many rectangular cutouts (that each are 3/8 ft^2) will fit in the remaining space.
You do that by dividing the remaining space left by 3/8:
[tex] \frac{69}{10} / \frac{3}{8} = \frac{69}{10} * \frac{8}{3} = \frac{92}{5} [/tex]
since you have to have a whole number of cutouts, you round 92/5 down to 90/5, which is 18 cutouts
