Final answer:
The actual width of the stained glass window is 4.8 feet, as determined by setting up a proportion with the scale drawing which is 12 centimeters wide and using the scale of 2 1/2 centimeters = 1 foot.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks us to determine the actual width of a stained glass window, in feet, based on a scale drawing whose width is 12 centimeters. The given scale of the drawing is 2 1/2 centimeters = 1 foot. To find the actual width, we need to use the provided scale factor.
Firstly, we convert the 2 1/2 centimeters to a decimal, which is 2.5 centimeters. Then we set up a proportion to solve for the width in feet:
Scale - Actual size
2.5 cm - 1 ft
12 cm - W ft (where W is the actual width we're looking to find)
Setting up the proportion, we get:
2.5/1 = 12/W
Now, we cross-multiply and solve for W:
2.5W = 12
W = 12 / 2.5
W = 4.8
Therefore, the actual width of the stained glass window is 4.8 feet.