4. Two regular hexagons with center cand apothems a and b are shown in the figure below. Each vertex of the smaller hexagon is a midpoilt on a side of the larger hexagon.
3
b
•C с
If a = 1273 and b = 18 cm, what is the total area of the shaded regions?

5=812a+9+3

step 1: simplify both sides of the equation.

5=812a+9+3

5=(812a)+(9+3)(combine like terms)

5=812a+12

5=812a+12

step 2: flip the equation.

812a+12=5

step 3: subtract 12 from both sides.

812a+12−12=5−12

812a=−7

step 4: divide both sides by 812.

812a /812 = -7/812

a= -1/116

so the answer is

a=   -1/116