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| Question 153655:  A rectangular light-switch plate is made according to the following dimensions. The length is 7 inches, and the width is 5.5 inches; a rectangular hole measuring 1.2 inches by 0.3 inches is left in the center. (See diagram below) (a) How many square inches in area is the light-switch plate (the shaded region)? (b) If the cost to construct the plate is $4.27 per square inch, what is the construction cost?
 Answer by nerdybill(7384)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! A rectangular light-switch plate is made according to the following dimensions. The length is 7 inches, and the width is 5.5 inches; a rectangular hole measuring 1.2 inches by 0.3 inches is left in the center. (See diagram below) (a) How many square inches in area is the light-switch plate (the shaded region)? (b) If the cost to construct the plate is $4.27 per square inch, what is the construction cost? .
 The area is:
 "area border by outside edge of plate" MINUS "area of hole"
 .
 Let's look at each:
 "area border by outside edge of plate"
 From: "The length is 7 inches, and the width is 5.5 inches"
 we get the area (length times width):
 7*5.5 = 38.5 square inches
 .
 "area of hole"
 From: "rectangular hole measuring 1.2 inches by 0.3 inches"
 we get the area (length times width):
 1.2 * 0.3 = 0.36 square inches
 .
 So,
 "area border by outside edge of plate" MINUS "area of hole"
 38.5 - 0.36 = 38.14 square inches (answer for a)
 .
 For part b:
 Since the problem stated:
 "$4.27 per square inch" we get:
 38.14 * 4.27 = $162.86 (answer for b)
 .
 (Sounds like an expensive switch plate to me)
 
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