Final answer:
The area of a 12-foot by 12-foot room is calculated by multiplying the length by the width, resulting in 144 square feet needed to carpet the room.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate how many square feet of carpeting are needed to carpet a 12-foot × 12-foot room, you need to find the area of the room in square feet. The area is found by multiplying the length of the room by its width. In this case, both the length and the width are 12 feet.
Area = Length × Width = 12 feet × 12 feet = 144 square feet.
Therefore, the correct answer is D. 144 square feet.