Final answer:
To calculate the length of wire that can be bought for 15 cents, we find the cost per inch from the given price and then use it to find how many inches can be bought with 15 cents. We determined that 5 inches of wire can be purchased for 15 cents.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks us to determine the length of wire that can be purchased for 15 cents if 12 inches of wire costs 36 cents. To find this, we can set up a proportion where the cost-per-inch is consistent.
First, we calculate the cost per inch of the wire:
- Cost per inch = 36 cents / 12 inches = 3 cents per inch
Next, we determine how many inches of wire can be purchased for 15 cents:
- Length for 15 cents = 15 cents / (3 cents per inch) = 5 inches
So, you can purchase 5 inches of wire for 15 cents.