Final answer:
The top margin should be 0.6 inches, and the bottom margin should be 0.9 inches, calculated by subtracting the print area from the page length and applying the given rule of thumb for the distribution of margin space.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the top and bottom margins of a book page, we apply the rule of thumb that the top margin should be 2/5 of the total margin, and the bottom margin should take the remaining portion. With the print area taking up 9.5 inches on an 11-inch page, we first find the total margin space available by subtracting the print area from the page length:
11 inches (Page Length) - 9.5 inches (Print Area) = 1.5 inches (Total Margin Space).
Using the rule of thumb for the distribution of margin space, we calculate:
Top Margin: 2/5 of the Total Margin Space = 2/5 * 1.5 inches = 0.6 inches.
Bottom Margin: Remaining Margin Space = Total Margin Space - Top Margin = 1.5 inches - 0.6 inches = 0.9 inches.
Hence, the top margin should be 0.6 inches, and the bottom margin should be 0.9 inches.