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A marketing manager for a publishing company has a 6 foot by 8 foot banner to be used when setting up
booths at educational conferences. She decides add more zing to the booth by increasing the square footage by 50%,
and plans to accomplish this by increasing each of the dimensions by the same amount. What will the new dimensions be?
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After adding x to old dimension, the new dimensions are (6+x) ft and (8+x) ft.
The new area is 50% more than the old area, which was 6*8 = 48 ft^2.
So, the new area is 48 + 0.5*48 = 72 ft^2, giving the equation
(6+x)*(8+x) = 72.
Simplify and find x
48 + 6x + 8x + x^2 = 72
x^2 + 14x - 24 = 0
It is not factorable, so use the quadratic formula
= = .
Of the two roots, select only the positive root as the solution to the problem
x = = 1.544 ft (rounded). ANSWER
ANSWER. New dimensions are 6+1.544 = 7.544 ft and 8+1.544 = 9.544 ft.
CHECK. 7.544*9.544 = 71.99994 ft^2. ! Good ; Correct !
Solved.