Final answer:
To find out how many feet of ribbon are in 48 inches, use the unit rate by setting up a proportion. Cross-multiply and solve for the unknown variable to find the answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find out how many feet of ribbon are in 48 inches, you can use the unit rate. A unit rate is a ratio that compares two different units of measurement. In this case, we want to convert inches to feet.
First, write a proportion by setting the two ratios equal to one another:
1/48 = w/12
Next, cross-multiply and solve for w:
1 x 12 = 48 x w
12 = 48w
Divide both sides by 48:
12/48 = w
Reducing the fraction gives us:
1/4 = w
Therefore, there are 1/4 feet of ribbon in 48 inches.