Answer:
Area of the resulting rectangle = 23.375 inch²
Step-by-step explanation:
After 1 fold width or length reduces to half.
Area = Length x width
So after 1 fold area will reduce to half.
So we have
[tex]\texttt{Area after n folds =}\frac{\texttt{Initial area}}{2^{\texttt{number of folds}}}[/tex]
Initial area = 8.5 x 11 = 93.5 inch²
Here the paper were folded completely in half, length is reduced to half and width reduced to half, that is
Number of folds = 2
[tex]\texttt{Area after 2 folds =}\frac{\texttt{Initial area}}{2^{2}}\\\\\texttt{Area after 2 folds =}\frac{93.5}{4}=23.375inch^2[/tex]
Area after 2 folds = 23.375 inch²
Area of the resulting rectangle = 23.375 inch²
