\begin{tabular}{l|r|}\( \begin{array}{l}\text { A science fair poster is a rectangle } 4 \mathrm{ft} \text { long and } 3 \mathrm{ft} \\ \text { wide. Some of the entry rules for the fair refer to the } \\ \text { area of the poster in square inches. Use the facts to find } \\ \text { its area in square inches. }\end{array} \begin{array}{r}1 \text { foot }(\mathrm{ft})=12 \text { inches (in) } \\ 1 \text { yard }(\mathrm{yd})=3 \text { feet }(\mathrm{ft}) \\ 1 \text { yard }(\mathrm{yd})=36 \text { inches (in) } \\ \hline\end{array} \)\end{tabular}

To find the area of the poster in square inches, first, convert the dimensions from feet to inches. Since there are 12 inches in a foot, the length of the poster is \(4 \text{ ft} \times 12 \text{ in/ft} = 48 \text{ in}\) and the width is \(3 \text{ ft} \times 12 \text{ in/ft} = 36 \text{ in}\). Now, to calculate the area, multiply the length and width: \[ \text{Area} = 48 \text{ in} \times 36 \text{ in} = 1728 \text{ square inches}. \] The area of the poster is 1728 square inches! Now, here’s a fun fact: Did you know that a standard movie poster is often 27 inches by 40 inches? While not as large as your science fair poster, it’s fascinating how these sizes can impact visibility and design! Bigger posters often attract more attention! Also, when calculating area, it's common for people to forget a crucial conversion step or stumble on multiplication. A useful tip is to always double-check your unit conversions and to break your multiplication down into smaller, manageable parts (like 48 x 36 could be broken down into (48 x 30) + (48 x 6)). This can help avoid errors in calculations!