Let's come up with points that would be on the graph of a str. line:
(0, 1/4), (1, 1 1/12), (2, 1 11/12), (and so on).
Assume that this is a line, a str. line, and not a curve.
The slope of this line is
1 11/12 - 1 1/12
m = ------------------------ = 10/12, or 5/6.
2 - 1
We now have the slope and y-intercept: slope = m = 5/6; intercept = 1/4.
The line is then y = (5/6)x + 1/4.
To answer this question, substitute 4 for x and calculate y:
y = (5/6)(4) + 1/4 = 20/6 + 1/4 = 40/12 + 3/12 = 43/12 inches.
That's 3 7/12 inches.