Final answer:
To find the length of the backyard in the scale drawing, set up a proportion based on the scale 3 inches : 10 feet and solve for x, resulting in the backyard being 12 inches long in the drawing.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the length of the backyard in Colette's scale drawing, you need to set up a ratio using the scale 3 inches : 10 feet. This means for every 3 inches on the drawing, the actual length is 10 feet. Therefore:
Scale: 3 inches / 10 feet
Actual backyard length: 40 feet
To find the scale length of the backyard, set up a proportion:
3 inches / 10 feet = x inches / 40 feet
Cross-multiply to solve for x:
10 feet * x inches = 3 inches * 40 feet
10x = 120
Divide both sides by 10 to isolate x:
x = 12 inches
Thus, the length of the backyard on the scale drawing is 12 inches.