Answer: 12.6 feet long
Explanation:
To find the length of the shorter sides of the actual deck, we can use a scale factor. First, let's determine the scale factor by comparing the long side of the blueprint to the long side of the actual deck.
Scale factor = (Length of actual long side) / (Length of blueprint long side)
Scale factor = (22.5 feet) / (7.5 inches)
Since 1 foot equals 12 inches, we need to convert 22.5 feet to inches:
22.5 feet * 12 inches/foot = 270 inches
Now we can calculate the scale factor:
Scale factor = 270 inches / 7.5 inches
Scale factor = 36
Now we can find the length of the shorter sides of the actual deck by multiplying the length of the shorter sides in the blueprint by the scale factor:
Length of actual short side = (Length of blueprint short side) * Scale factor
Length of actual short side = 4.2 inches * 36
Length of actual short side = 151.2 inches
Finally, convert the length from inches to feet:
Length of actual short side (in feet) = 151.2 inches / 12 inches/foot
Length of actual short side (in feet) ≈ 12.6 feet
The shorter sides of the actual deck are approximately 12.6 feet long.