Hal is painting a wall that measures \( 10 \frac{1}{4} \) feet by 9 feet. What is the area of the wall?

To find the area of the wall, you simply multiply the length by the height. First, convert \( 10 \frac{1}{4} \) feet to an improper fraction: \( 10 \frac{1}{4} = \frac{41}{4} \) feet. So the area calculation is: \[ \text{Area} = \text{Length} \times \text{Height} = \frac{41}{4} \times 9 = \frac{369}{4} = 92.25 \text{ square feet} \] Now, Hal knows he has 92.25 square feet of wall space to cover with paint! Hal, while embarking on his painting mission, might want to keep in mind that the type of paint used can affect the final appearance of his wall. Different finishes can give surprising results; for instance, matte finishes absorb light and imperfections, while glossy ones reflect light, making imperfections more pronounced. Choosing the right finish can enhance the beauty of the painted wall! Oh! And here's a little tip: always measure your wall space twice before ordering paint! It's so easy to miscalculate, and you don't want to have extra paint lying around or end up with mismatched colors. A common mistake is assuming that all paint cans cover the same area, but they can differ widely. Always check the coverage specifics for the paint you choose!