Final answer:
The scale factor could be approximately 0.56 to shrink the picture to fit on Mr. Soper's desk.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scale factor is a number that represents how much smaller or larger an object is compared to its original size in a scale drawing or model. In this case, Mr. Soper wants to shrink a 30" x 52" picture to fit on her desk, so we need to find a scale factor that will make the picture smaller. To find the scale factor, we can divide the dimensions of the picture by the dimensions of the desk.
Let's assume that the dimensions of the desk are 24" x 36". To fit the picture on the desk, the scale factor would be:
Scale factor = (dimensions of the desk) / (dimensions of the picture)
Scale factor = (24" / 30") x (36" / 52")
Scale factor ≈ 0.8 x 0.7 = 0.56
Therefore, a scale factor of approximately 0.56 could be used to shrink the picture to fit on Mr. Soper's desk.