Final answer:
To convert the altitude of 12 feet to the equivalent side dimension in inches, set up a proportion using the ratio 1 foot to 12 inches and cross-multiply to find the answer of 144 inches.
Step-by-step explanation:
Converting Altitude in Feet to Side Length
When dealing with problems of conversion of units, or finding an unknown measurement in geometry, it's important to set up a proportion using known ratios. For example, to convert from feet to inches, you would use the fact that 1 foot is equivalent to 12 inches. If the altitude of a figure is 12 feet, and you want to find the equivalent side length in inches, you set up a proportion as follows:
1 foot / 12 inches = 12 feet / x inches
Cross-multiplying to solve for x gives:
1 * x = 12 * 12
x = 144
Therefore, the side length in inches would be 144 inches.