8. On a blueprint for a new office building, the rectangular conference room measures 4.

5 in
by 12 in. The shorter wall of the actual room measures 15 ft. How much carpeting will be
needed to cover the floor of the actual room?
Solution :
 Step 1
Define the model of the problem
lengt h onblueprint widt h onblueprint
=
actual lengt h actual widt h
 Step 2
Find the actual width by put the value on the model of the problem
Let w = actual width
4.5 12
=
15 w
4.5 w=180
180
w=
4.5 (by cross-multiplying)
w=40
 Step 3
Next, find the area of the floor by multiplying the actual length with the actual width
T h e area=15 × 40=600 f t 2

∴So, carpeting will be needed to cover the floor of the actual room is 600 f t 2.

10. A construction firm knows that the number of new houses that it can build in a month
varies directly with the cost of labor due to overtime charges. If 12 houses can be built
when it pays an average of $ 14.50 per hour, how much should the company expect to pay
its workers, if it needs to build 20 houses?
Solution:
 Step 1
Set up the model proportion
number of h ouses 12
=
cost of labor 14.50
 Step 2
Find the cost of labor
Let c = the cost of labor
20 12
=
c 14.50
12 c=290
290
c=
12 (by cross-multiplying)
c=24.17

∴ So, the cost of labor we are seeking is $ 24.17 per hours.