Final answer:
The length of Gavin's model car based on the scale factor of 2.6 inches to 3 feet and the actual car's length of 8.5 feet is approximately 7.38 inches when rounded to the nearest hundredth.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the length of Gavin's model car, we need to use the scale factor that is provided. The scale factor states that 2.6 inches on the model represent 3 feet on the actual car. To find the model car's length, we create a proportion and solve for the unknown value. The proportion is set up as follows:
Model scale / Actual scale = Model length / Actual length
2.6 inches / 3 feet = X inches / 8.5 feet
Converting 3 feet to inches (since there are 12 inches in a foot), we have:
2.6 inches / 36 inches = X inches / 102 inches
Now we can solve for X:
(2.6 * 102) / 36 = X
X ≈ 7.3833 inches
Gavin's model car should be approximately 7.38 inches long when rounded to the nearest hundredth.