SOLUTION: how wide a uniform border should be left on a plot of land 7m by 11m to have a rectangular area of 45m^2 available for flowers? Thank you!

Question 186454: how wide a uniform border should be left on a plot of land 7m by 11m to have a rectangular area of 45m^2 available for flowers?
Thank you!
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
how wide a uniform border should be left on a plot of land 7m by 11m to have
a rectangular area of 45m^2 available for flowers?
:
Let x = width of the uniform border
then the dimensions of the flower area will be:
(7-2x) by (11-2x)
:
The area:
(7 - 2x) * (11 - 2x) = 45
FOIL
77 - 14x - 22x + 4x^2 = 45
Arrange as a quadratic equation
4x^2 - 36x + 77 - 45 = 0
4x^2 - 36x + 32 = 0
Simplify, divide by 4
x^2 - 9x + 8 = 0
Factor
(x-8)(x-1) = 0
Two solutions
x = 8
and
x = 1 meter; this is the solution that makes sense
:
:
Check by finding the area
(7-2) * (11-2) = 45
RELATED QUESTIONS
A gardener has a 30 foot by 20 foot rectangular plot of ground. She wants to build a... (answered by stanbon,josmiceli)

A gardener has a 40 foot by 35 foot rectangular plot of ground. She wants to build a... (answered by josmiceli)

A rectangular plot, 4 meters by 8 meters, is to be used for a garden. The owner decides... (answered by Shin123,josgarithmetic,ikleyn)

A gardener has a 30 foot by 20 foot rectangular plot of ground. she wants to build a... (answered by Stitch)

A small rectangular playground that is 10 feet by 14 feet is going to have a grass border (answered by checkley77)

Farmer Jack wants to construct a yard for his chickens using 36m of fencing he has... (answered by josgarithmetic)

Hi A landscaper wishes to plant a uniform border of tulips on the inside of a... (answered by Theo)

You put a flower bed that is 20 by 30ft. you are putting in a uniform border around the... (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)

A small rectangular playground that is 10feet by 14feet is going to have a grass border... (answered by checkley77)