Question

A graphic designer is planning the layout for a magazine advertisement. The advertisement is shown below. The ratio of the sum of the widths of the three pictures to the total width of the advertisement is 4:5. If each poster is 4 inches wide, what is the length of each of the four empty spaces between the pictures (t)?

A. 3 inches
B. 3/4 inch
C. 15 inches
D. 1 1/2 inches

Answer 1

so you know that the total width of the posters is 4 + 4 + 4 so 12 inches.
you also know that the ratio of the total poster width to the width of the advertisement is 4:5
so to find the width of the whole board you do
12 / 4 = 3
3 x 5 = 15 inches

then you know that
4t = 15-12
4t = 3
t = 3/4 inches

Answer 2

Answer: B. 3/4 inch

Step-by-step explanation:

Given: The width of each poster = 4 inches

Then the sum of width of 3 posters = $3\times4=12\ inches$

Let x be total width of the advertisement.

Since the ratio of the sum of the widths of the three pictures to the total width of the advertisement is 4:5.

Then, we have

$\frac{12}{x}=\frac{4}{5}\\\\\Rightarrow\ x=\frac{12\times5}{4}\\\\\Rightarrow\ x=15\ inches$

Now, the sum of lengths of empty spaces between the pictures

=Total width - sum of width of 3 posters$=15-12=3\ inches$

From the given picture, we have

$\\\\\Rightarrow 4t=3\\\\\Rightarrow\ t=\frac{3}{4}\ inches$

Hence, the length of each of the four empty spaces between the pictures  = 3/4 inch.