Answer: 60 feet
Explanation:
The scale ratio given is 1/4 in = 6 ft. This means that for every 1/4 inch on the scale, the actual height is 6 feet. Given that the height of the beam on the scale is 2 1/2 inches, we can use this information to find the actual height of the beam. To do this, we need to multiply the height on the scale by the conversion factor. First, we need to convert the mixed number 2 1/2 into an improper fraction. This is done by multiplying the whole number (2) by the denominator (2) and adding the numerator (1). This gives us 5/2. Next, we multiply the improper fraction by the conversion factor. (5/2) * (6 ft / 1/4 in) = (5/2) * (6 ft / 1/4 in) = (5/2) * (24 ft/in) = (5 * 24) / (2 * 1) ft = 120 ft / 2 ft = 60 ft.
Therefore, the actual height of the beam is 60 feet.