document.write( "Question 205648: Mr. McGreggor is redesigning his garden. If the new width is half of the old wideth and the new length is 4 feet less than twice the old wide, the garden will be 24 square feet. Find the old width.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "Connie \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #155308 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)\"\" \"About 
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If the new width is half of the old width and the new length is 4 feet less
\n" ); document.write( " than twice the old width, the garden will be 24 square feet.
\n" ); document.write( "Find the old width.
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\n" ); document.write( "Let x = the old width
\n" ); document.write( "then
\n" ); document.write( ".5x = the new width
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\n" ); document.write( "\"new length is 4 feet less than twice the old width,\"
\n" ); document.write( "(2x - 4) = new length
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\n" ); document.write( "Area = length * width
\n" ); document.write( ".5x(2x-4) = 24
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\n" ); document.write( "x^2 - 2x = 24
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\n" ); document.write( "x^2 - 2x - 24 = 0
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\n" ); document.write( "Factors to
\n" ); document.write( "(x-6)(x+4) = 0
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\n" ); document.write( "the positive solution is what we want here
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\n" ); document.write( "x = 6 ft; is the old width
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\n" ); document.write( "Check solution:
\n" ); document.write( "New width = .5(6) = 3 ft
\n" ); document.write( "New length = 2(6) - 4 = 8 ft
\n" ); document.write( "Area: 3 * 8 = 24 sq/ft\r
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