Final answer:
To find the value of x, we can set up a proportion using the given information. The width of the carpet is 28 inches and the step is 17 inches, so the ratio of the width to the step is 28/17.
Step-by-step explanation:
To solve this problem, we can set up a proportion using the given information. The width of the carpet is 28 inches and the step is 17 inches, so the ratio of the width to the step is 28/17. Since there are 18 steps, we can set up the proportion 12/x = 28/17.
To solve for x, we can cross multiply and solve for x. 17 * 12 = 28 * x. Simplifying this equation gives us 204 = 28x. Dividing both sides by 28 gives us x = 7. Therefore, the value of x is 7 feet.