Answer: [tex]\frac{5}{4}\ ft[/tex]
Step-by-step explanation:
Given
Maria kite tail is [tex]3\ \frac{1}{2}\ ft[/tex] long
Max's kite tail is [tex]2\ \frac{1}{4}\ ft[/tex] long
Converting it to a fraction
Maria kite tail
[tex]\Rightarrow \dfrac{3\times2+1}{2}=\dfrac{7}{2}\ ft[/tex]
Max's kite tail
[tex]\Rightarrow \dfrac{2\times4+1}{4}=\dfrac{9}{4}\ ft[/tex]
Difference between lengths
[tex]\Rightarrow \dfrac{7}{2}-\dfrac{9}{4}\\\Rightarrow \dfrac{14-9}{4}=\dfrac{5}{4}\ ft[/tex]
Max's tail is [tex]\frac{5}{4}\ ft[/tex] short than Maria kite tail