document.write( "Question 162680: A homeowner wants to fence a rectangular garden using 120ft of fencing. The side of the garage will be used as one side of the rectangle. Find the dimension for which the area is a maximum.
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Algebra.Com's Answer #119899 by nerdybill(7384)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! Let w = width \n" ); document.write( "and L = length \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "then: \n" ); document.write( "2w + L = 120 (equation 1) \n" ); document.write( "and \n" ); document.write( "area = wL (equation 2) \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Solve for L in equation 1: \n" ); document.write( "2w + L = 120 \n" ); document.write( "L = 120-2w \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Substitute the above into equation 2: \n" ); document.write( "area = wL \n" ); document.write( "area = w(120-2w) \n" ); document.write( "area = 120w-2w^2 \n" ); document.write( "area = -2w^2+120w \n" ); document.write( "area = -2(w^2-60w) \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "The standard parabola equation is: \n" ); document.write( "y= a(x-h)2+k \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Strategy is manipulate the equation so that it fits that form (to find the vertex) -- do this by completing the square: \n" ); document.write( "area = -2(w^2-60w) \n" ); document.write( "area = -2(w^2-60w+900)+1800 \n" ); document.write( "area = -2(w-30)^2+1800 \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "(h,k) is the vertex: \n" ); document.write( "(30,1800) \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Therefore, area is maximized when \n" ); document.write( "w = 30 feet (width) \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "to find the length, we said the length is: \n" ); document.write( "L = 120-2w \n" ); document.write( "L = 120-2(30) \n" ); document.write( "L = 120-60 \n" ); document.write( "L = 60 feet (length) \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Conclusion: \n" ); document.write( "dimension is 30 by 60 feet rectangle \n" ); document.write( " |