SOLUTION: A rectangular garden is to be surrounded by a walkway of constant width. The garden's dimensions are 30 ft by 40 ft. The total area, garden plus walkway, is to be 1800 ft2. What

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Question 119652: A rectangular garden is to be surrounded by a walkway of constant width. The garden's dimensions are 30 ft by 40 ft. The total area, garden plus walkway, is to be 1800 ft2. What must be the width of the walkway to the nearest thousandth?
Found 2 solutions by checkley71, scottjcampbell:
Answer by checkley71(8403) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
(30+2X)(40+2X)=1440 X BEING THE WIDTH OF THE WALKWAY.
1200+80X+60X+4X^2=1440
4X^2+140X+1200-1440=0
4X^2+140X-240=0
4(X^2+35X-60)=0
USING THE QUADRATIC EQUATION WE GET:
X=(-35+-SQRT[35^2-4*1*-60])/2*1
X=(-35+-SQRT[1225+240])/2
X=(-35+-SQRT1465])/2
X=(-35+-38.28)/2
X=(-35+38.28)/2
X=3.28/2
X=1.64 ANSWER.
X=(-35-38.28)/2
X=-73.28/2
X=-36.64 ANSWER.

Answer by scottjcampbell(5) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
X=-36.64