A homeowner has a 1 foot by 8 foot carpet and a 10 foot by 10 foot carpet. Show how he can cut the 10 foot by 10 foot carpet into two pieces so that he can carpet a 9 foot by 12 foot room.
To carpet a 9 foot by 12 foot room using a 1 foot by 8 foot carpet and a 10 foot by 10 foot carpet, the homeowner can follow these steps:
1. Start by measuring and marking the dimensions of the room on the 10 foot by 10 foot carpet. The room measures 9 feet by 12 feet, so use a measuring tape or ruler to mark these dimensions on the carpet.
2. Cut off a 1 foot by 10 foot strip from the 10 foot by 10-foot carpet. This strip will correspond to the extra 1-foot width needed to cover the 12-foot length of the room.
3. Next, cut a 9 foot by 9 foot square from the remaining larger piece of the 10 foot by 10-foot carpet. This square will correspond to the main area of the room.
4. Place the 1 foot by 10-foot strip of carpet along one side of the 9 foot by 9-foot square, aligning their edges. This strip will cover the additional 1-foot width needed to reach the full 9-foot width of the room.
5. The combined piece of the 9 foot by 9 foot square and the 1 foot by 10-foot strip will now cover a 9 foot by 10-foot portion of the room.
6. Finally, use the 1 foot by 8-foot carpet to fill in the remaining space. Cut it into two 1 foot by 4-foot strips, and place them along the 9-foot width of the room to cover the additional 2-foot length.
By following these steps, the homeowner can effectively use the 1 foot by 8 foot carpet and cut the 10 foot by 10 foot carpet into two pieces to completely carpet the 9 foot by 12 foot room.