Given the figures are similar, calculate the perimeter of the ABCDE.

Let the length of side AB be $x$, then
[tex] \cfrac{x}{2}=\cfrac{12}{4}\Rightarrow4x=24\Rightarrow x=\cfrac{24}{4}=6. [/tex]
Therefore, the perimeter of ABCDE is 2(12) + 2(4) + 6 = 24 + 8 + 6 = 38 in.