Oscar has a piece of plywood that is 9 feet by 9 feet. Explain how he can divide it into two smaller pieces of plywood. Would the area of the smaller pieces equal the area of the large piece?

Please read the answers below.

Step-by-step explanation:

Part A. Explain how Oscar can divide it into two smaller pieces of plywood?

He can use a handsaw and cut the plywood in two smaller pieces of several measures, not necessarily the two smaller pieces need to be equal.

Part B. Would the area of the smaller pieces equal the area of the large piece?

Yes, the area of the two smaller pieces together equal the are of the large piece.

i. Let's suppose we have two pieces of 4.5 feet by 9 feet, then the combined area of these two pieces would be:

A = 4.5 *9 + 4.5 * 9

A = 40.5 + 40.5 = 81 ft² that is the same than 9 * 9 = 81 ft²

ii. Now let's suppose we divide the plywood into a piece of 6 ft by 9 ft and a second one of 3 ft by 9 ft, then the combined area of these two pieces would be:

A = 6 * 9 + 3 * 9

A = 54 + 27 = 81 ft² that is the same than 9 * 9 = 81 ft²

iii. Finally, let's suppose we divide the plywood into a piece of 1 ft by 9 ft and a second one of 8 ft by 9 ft, then the combined area of these two pieces would be:

A = 1 * 9 + 8 * 9

A = 9 +72 = 81 ft² that is the same than 9 * 9 = 81 ft²