Final answer:
To find the missing side length of the similar rectangles, set up a proportion and solve for x. The missing side length is 4 inches.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the missing side length, we can set up a proportion using the dimensions of the two similar rectangles. Let's call the missing side length 'x'. The ratio of the length of the larger rectangle to the length of the smaller rectangle is equal to the ratio of the width of the larger rectangle to the width of the smaller rectangle. So we can write:
(8 inches)/(4 inches) = (x)/(2 inches)
To solve for 'x', we can cross-multiply and then divide. First, multiply 4 inches by 'x' to get 4x inches. Then, multiply 2 inches by 8 inches to get 16 inches. Now we have:
4x inches = 16 inches
To isolate 'x', divide both sides of the equation by 4 inches:
x = 16 inches / 4 inches = 4 inches
Therefore, the missing side length is 4 inches.