Final answer:
To find how much of the stick is not decayed, subtract the length of the decayed portion from the total length of the stick. In this case, 1 1/2 feet of the stick is not decayed.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find how much of the stick is not decayed, we need to subtract the length of the decayed portion from the total length of the stick. The stick is 4 1/2 feet long, and a 3-foot portion is decayed. To find the length that is not decayed, we subtract 3 feet from 4 1/2 feet:
4 1/2 feet - 3 feet = 1 1/2 feet
Therefore, 1 1/2 feet of the stick is not decayed.