document.write( "Question 787145: A landscaper, who just completed a rectangular flower garden measuring 6 feet by 10 feet, orders 1 cubic yard of premixed cement, all of which is to be used to create a border of uniform width around the garden. If the border is to have a depth of 3 inches, how wide will the border be? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #478200 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! A landscaper, who just completed a rectangular flower garden measuring 6 feet by 10 feet, orders 1 cubic yard of premixed cement, all of which is to be used to create a border of uniform width around the garden. \n" ); document.write( " If the border is to have a depth of 3 inches, how wide will the border be? \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Find the area which can be covered with 3\" of concrete, in square feet: \n" ); document.write( "1 cu/yd = 27 cu/ft \n" ); document.write( "3\" = 1/4 or .25 ft \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Let x = the width of the border, then the overall dimensions will be: \n" ); document.write( "(2x+6) by (2x+10) \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Overall area - garden dimension area = border area \n" ); document.write( "(2x+6)(2x+10) - (6*10) = 108 \n" ); document.write( "FOIL \n" ); document.write( "4x^2 + 20x + 12x + 60 - 60 = 108 \n" ); document.write( "combine as a quadratic equation \n" ); document.write( "4x^2 + 32x - 108 = 0 \n" ); document.write( "simplify, divide by 4 \n" ); document.write( "x^2 + 8x - 27 = 0 \n" ); document.write( "You will have to use the quadratic formula to find x \n" ); document.write( "I got a positive solution of 2.5574 ft as the width of border (about 2' 7\") \n" ); document.write( " |