1. **State the problem:** We are given the circumference of a plastic pipe as $4 \frac{1}{2}$ inches and the pipe thickness as $\frac{1}{16}$ inch. We need to find the inside diameter of the pipe. 2. **Convert mixed number to improper fraction:** $$4 \frac{1}{2} = \frac{9}{2}$$ 3. **Recall the formula for circumference:** $$C = \pi d$$ where $C$ is the circumference and $d$ is the diameter. 4. **Calculate the outside diameter:** $$d_{outside} = \frac{C}{\pi} = \frac{\frac{9}{2}}{\pi} = \frac{9}{2\pi}$$ 5. **Calculate the inside diameter:** The pipe thickness is $\frac{1}{16}$ inch, so the inside diameter is: $$d_{inside} = d_{outside} - 2 \times \text{thickness} = \frac{9}{2\pi} - 2 \times \frac{1}{16}$$ 6. **Simplify the thickness term:** $$2 \times \frac{1}{16} = \frac{2}{16} = \frac{1}{8}$$ 7. **Substitute and simplify:** $$d_{inside} = \frac{9}{2\pi} - \frac{1}{8}$$ 8. **Calculate numerical values:** $$\frac{9}{2\pi} \approx \frac{9}{6.2832} \approx 1.4324$$ $$d_{inside} \approx 1.4324 - 0.125 = 1.3074$$ 9. **Round to two decimal places:** $$d_{inside} \approx 1.31$$ **Final answer:** The inside diameter of the plastic pipe is approximately **1.31 inches**.