A rectangle has vertices at (−1, 6), (−1,−2), (3, 6), and (3,−2). Sara says the area of the rectangle is 16 square units and her work is shown. Sara’s Work Step 1: Base: absolute value of negative 1 plus absolute value of 3 is equal to 4 Step 2: Height: absolute value of 6 plus absolute value of negative 2 is equal to 4 Step 3: Area: 4 times 4 is equal to 16 square units Where, if at all, did Sara first make a mistake in finding the area of the rectangle?
Step 1 gives the correct base length: the horizontal distance from x = −1 to x = 3 is 3 − (−1) = 4. In Step 2, the vertical distance from y = −2 to y = 6 is 6 − (−2) = 8, not 4, so Sara first makes a mistake in Step 2. The correct area is 4 × 8 = 32 square units, not 16.
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