document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=189231>Question 189231</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I have tried several times to work this problem and cannot seem to get the correct answer.  Any help would be great!  Thanks!\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "A rectangular garden has dimensions of 17 feet by 11 feet.  A gravel path of equal width is to be built around the garden.  How wide can the path be if there is enough gravel for 288 square feet? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #141971 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jonvaliente><B>jonvaliente(64)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-08.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jonvaliente><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=jonvaliente><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=141971\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The area of the garden is given by 17 x 11 = 187\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "If x=width of the path then the dimensions of the garden with the path would be:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "(17+2x) long by (11+2x) wide (remember that the width of the path would add to all 4 sides)\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "The whole garden can have the maximum area of 288+187= square feet, so:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "(2x+17)*(2x+11)=475\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4x%5E2%2B56x%2B187=475 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4x%5E2%2B56x%2B187=475\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Subtracting 475 from both sides, we get:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4x%5E2%2B56x-288=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4x%5E2%2B56x-288=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Factoring, we get:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%282x%2B36%29%2A%282x-8%29=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%282x%2B36%29%2A%282x-8%29=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "2x+36=0 and/or 2x-8=0\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "2x=-36          2x=8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=-18           x=4\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "We take 4, since the width of the path cannot be negative.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "The width of the path is 4 feet. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );