Final answer:
To find the length of the shortest side of the rectangle, we use the formula for the area of a rectangle and solve for x.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the length, in inches, of the shortest side of the rectangle, we need to use the formula for the area of a rectangle which is length × width. Since we are given the area as 96 square inches and the length of the longest side as 16 inches, we can substitute these values into the formula. Let's denote the length of the shortest side as x, so the equation becomes x × 16 = 96. Solving for x, we divide both sides of the equation by 16 to get x = 6. Therefore, the length of the shortest side of the rectangle is 6 inches.
Learn more about Area of a rectangle