Use the image to answer the question.
An illustration shows a rectangle of length as whole number 6 start fraction 1 over 2 end fraction centimeters and width as whole number 4 start fraction 1 over 2 end fraction centimeters. The lengths are horizontally positioned and widths are vertically positioned.
Byron calculated the area of the rectangle as 22 square centimeters. What is the error in his reasoning and what is the correct answer?
(1 point)
The error in Byron's reasoning is that he added the lengths and widths together instead of multiplying them to find the area. The correct calculation would be multiplying the length (6 1/2 cm) by the width (4 1/2 cm):
Area = (6 1/2) cm * (4 1/2) cm
Area = 13/2 cm * 9/2 cm
Area = 117/4 square cm
Area = 29 1/4 square cm
Therefore, the correct area of the rectangle is 29 1/4 square centimeters, not 22 square centimeters as calculated by Byron.