Answer:
5th square will be the first square to have a side length less than 12 inches
Explanation:
The side of the first square = 24 inches
The side of the second square = 19.2
The ratio of the side of 1st square to the side of 2nd square = 19.2/24 = 4/5
The side of third square = 15.36 inches
The ratio of side of 2nd square to the side of 3rd square = 15.36/19.2 = 4/5
The side of the square is decreasing by the ratio = 4/5
The side of 4rth square = common ratio · side of third square
The side of 4rth square = 4/5 · 15.36 = 12.288 inches
The side of 5th square = common ratio · side of 4rth square
The side of 5th square = 4/5 · 12.288 = 9.8304 inches
Hence 5th square will be the first square to have a side length less than 12 inches