document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=45004>Question 45004</A>This question is from textbook <A HREF=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0072549017/algebrahomeworkh></A><BR>\n" );
document.write( ": <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A garden area is 30 ft long and 20 ft wide. A path of uniform width is set around the edge. If the remaining garden area is 400 ft2, what is the width of the path? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #29827 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=adamchapman><B>adamchapman(301)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-10.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=adamchapman><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/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=29827\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Let \"w\" represent the width of the path. After the path has been layed, the new dimensions of the garden area are:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=length+=+30+-2w ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"length+=+30+-2w\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > (we must subtract 2w because there is a path at both ends of the lawn),<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=width+=+20+-2w ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"width+=+20+-2w\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Now the area is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=Area=%2830-2w%29%2820-2w%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"Area=%2830-2w%29%2820-2w%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "This area is equal to 400 sq ft:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=400=%2830-2w%29%2820-2w%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"400=%2830-2w%29%2820-2w%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=400=600-60w-40w%2B4w%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"400=600-60w-40w%2B4w%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=0=200-60w-40w%2B4w%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"0=200-60w-40w%2B4w%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4w%5E2-100w%2B200=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4w%5E2-100w%2B200=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=w%5E2-25w%2B50=0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"w%5E2-25w%2B50=0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Now use the quadratic solver <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=w+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29+ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"w+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29+\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > <BR>\n" );
document.write( "where<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a = 1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b = -25<BR>\n" );
document.write( "c = 50<BR>\n" );
document.write( "To give:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=w+=%2825+%2B-+sqrt%28+25%5E2-200+%29%29%2F2+++ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"w+=%2825+%2B-+sqrt%28+25%5E2-200+%29%29%2F2+++\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=w+=%2825+%2B-+20.61%29%2F2+++ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"w+=%2825+%2B-+20.61%29%2F2+++\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=w+=%2825+%2B-+20.61%29%2F2+++ ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"w+=%2825+%2B-+20.61%29%2F2+++\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "so w=2.191 or w=22.808.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "22.808 ft seems ridiculously wide for a garden path, so the answer must be w=2.191ft.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "I hope this helps.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "P.S. I am trying to start up my own homework help website. I would be extremely grateful if you would e-mail me some feedback on the help you received to adam.chapman@student.manchester.ac.uk<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Adam<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );