SOLUTION: AHHHH - word problems kill me! Anyone out there willing to help me to see it through? A photo is 3 inches longer than it is wide. A 2-inch border is placed around the photo ma

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas -> SOLUTION: AHHHH - word problems kill me! Anyone out there willing to help me to see it through? A photo is 3 inches longer than it is wide. A 2-inch border is placed around the photo ma      Log On


   



Question 59263: AHHHH - word problems kill me! Anyone out there willing to help me to see it through?
A photo is 3 inches longer than it is wide. A 2-inch border is placed around the photo making the total area of the photo and border 108in^2. What are the dimensions of the photo?
Thank you!

Found 2 solutions by josmiceli, Cintchr:
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You've got to get the right picture
width = w
length = w + 3
The 2" border actually adds 4" to the width and 4" to the length.
That's because there's 2" on each side of the photo
%28w+%2B+2+%2B+2%29%2A%28w+%2B+3+%2B+2+%2B+2%29+=+108
w+%2B+4%29%2A%28w+%2B+7%29+=+108
w%5E2+%2B+11w+%2B+28+=+108
w%5E2+%2B+11w+-+80+=+0
complete the square
w%5E2+%2B+11w+%2B+%2811%2F2%29%5E2+=+80+%2B+%2811%2F2%29%5E2
%28w+%2B+11%2F2%29%5E2+=+320%2F4+%2B+121%2F4
take square root of both sides
%28w+%2B+11%2F2%29%5E2+=+441%2F4
take the square root of both sides
w+%2B+11%2F2+=+21%2F2
w+=+10%2F2
w+=+5
w+%2B+3+=+8
so, it's a 5x8 photo
check
%28w+%2B+4%29%2A%28w+%2B+7%29+=+108
%285+%2B+4%29%2A%285+%2B+7%29+=+108
9%2A12+=+108
108+=+108
OK

Answer by Cintchr(481) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Photo :
Width = x
Length = x + 3

The border adds two inches TO EACH SIDE, so that is 4 more inches to add to the length and width
Photo w/border:

Width = x + 4
Length = x + 7
Area + 108

+A=+L+%2A+W+
+108+=+%28x%2B7%29%28x%2B4%29+
FOIL
+108+=+x%5E2+%2B11x+%2B+28+
subtract 108 from both sides
+0+=+x%5E2+%2B11x+-+80+
factor
+0+=+%28x-5%29%28x%2B16%29+
set each equal to 0
+x-5=0+ and +x%2B16=0+
+x+=+5+ and +x+=+-16+
Lengths CAN NOT be negative values
+x+=+5+

Photo :
Width = x = 5
Length = x + 3 = 8