To find the area of a rectangular blanket, you need to use the formula for the area of a rectangle, which is:
[tex]\[
\text{Area} = \text{Length} \times \text{Width}
\][/tex]
Hiram's blanket has a length of 55 inches and a width of 43 inches. So we substitute these values into the formula:
[tex]\[
\text{Area} = 55 \times 43
\][/tex]
Next, we need to match this calculation with one of the given expressions. Let's consider each expression one-by-one.
1. [tex]\( 49^2 - 6^2 \)[/tex]
2. [tex]\( 55^2 + 43^2 \)[/tex]
3. [tex]\( 55^2 - 43^2 \)[/tex]
4. [tex]\( 49^2 + 6^2 \)[/tex]
To determine which expression correctly represents the area, notice that we need an expression that directly calculates the area as [tex]\( 55 \times 43 \)[/tex]. This will not correspond to expressions using additions ([tex]\(+\)[/tex]) or subtractions ([tex]\(-\)[/tex]), but rather the correct approach should be focusing on multiplication. However, without getting into details of power and simplifications in expressions, the correct choice for the expressions among those provided choices reflecting the appropriate calculation in question is:
[tex]\[
55^2 + 43^2
\][/tex]
Thus, the correct expression that Hiram should use to find the area of his blanket is:
[tex]\[
55^2 + 43^2
\][/tex]
