Answer: [tex]452.4\ ft^2[/tex]
Step-by-step explanation:
The following formula can be used for calculate the area of a circle:
[tex]A=\pi r^2[/tex]
Where "r" is the radius of the circle.
Let be "x" the actual diameter in feet of the base of the fountain.
You know that the blueprint has a scale of [tex]3\ cm:4\ ft[/tex], then, you can set up the following proportion:
[tex]\frac{4}{3}=\frac{x}{18}[/tex]
Solving for "x", you get:
[tex](18)(\frac{4}{3})=x\\\\x=24[/tex]
Since the radius of a circle is half its diameter, you know that the actual radius of the base of the fountain is:
[tex]r=\frac{24\ ft}{2}=12\ ft[/tex]
Now you can substitute the radius into the formula in order to calculate the actual area of the base of the fountain. Rounded to the nearest 10th, this is:
[tex]A=\pi (12\ ft)^2=452.4\ ft^2[/tex]