SOLUTION: A landscaper wants to put a cement walk of uniform width around a rectangular garden that measures 24 by 40 feet. She has enough cement to cover 740 square feet. To the nearest ten

Question 108689: A landscaper wants to put a cement walk of uniform width around a rectangular garden that measures 24 by 40 feet. She has enough cement to cover 740 square feet. To the nearest tenth of a foot, how wide should the walk be in order to use up all the cement?
There is a group of us working on this problem. However, we have got two different answers. Can you please provide your answer if these are wrong or your opinion if one is right? Thanks much :)
Answer #1
2(24-40)(5.7)
48+80(5.7)
128(5.7)
=729.60
Therefore the walk should be 5.7 feet wide.
Answer #2
(2x+24)(2x+40)-960=740
4x^2+128x+960-960=740
4x^2+128x=740
4x^2+128x-740=0
4x^2+128x740/4=0/4
x^2+32x-185=0
(x+35)(x-2)
x= -35
x=2
The path can not bee -35 so the answer would be 2ft is the width of the walk.

Answer by edjones(8007) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Answer #2 is the proper way to do this but you made a mistake factoring.
x^2+32x-185=0
(x-5)(x+37)=0
x=5 ft wide
Ed

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