Final answer:
Nancy can cut 3 complete panels from the fabric.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find out how many complete panels Nancy can cut from the fabric, we need to divide the total length of the fabric by the length required for each panel.
One panel requires one and one-fourth yards of fabric. Nancy has four and one-half yards of fabric.
First, let's convert four and one-half yards to a mixed number, which is 4 1/2 yards.
To divide 4 1/2 by 1 1/4, we can convert both numbers to improper fractions. 4 1/2 is equal to 9/2 and 1 1/4 is equal to 5/4.
Now, divide 9/2 by 5/4. Remember, when dividing fractions, we multiply the first fraction by the reciprocal of the second fraction. So, we multiply 9/2 by 4/5 to get the quotient.
9/2 * 4/5 = 36/10 = 3 6/10 = 3 3/5
Therefore, Nancy can cut 3 complete panels from the fabric.