document.write( "Question 837050: A farmer has a 25 ft by 50 ft rectangular field that he wants to reduce to 12% of its original size. How wide of a strip should he cut around the edge of his field to do this? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #504487 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)\"\" \"About 
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A farmer has a 25 ft by 50 ft rectangular field that he wants to reduce to 12% of its original size.
\n" ); document.write( " How wide of a strip should he cut around the edge of his field to do this?
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\n" ); document.write( "Find the original area of the field: 25 * 50 = 1250 sq/ft
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\n" ); document.write( "Let x = the width of the strip cut around the field to reduce size to 12% original
\n" ); document.write( "A strip all the way around will reduce the dimensions by 2x
\n" ); document.write( "therefore
\n" ); document.write( "(25-2x)(50-2x) = .12(1250)
\n" ); document.write( "FOIL
\n" ); document.write( "1250 - 50x - 100x + 4x^2 = 150
\n" ); document.write( "Combine as a quadratic equation
\n" ); document.write( "4x^2 - 150x + 1250 - 150 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "4x^2 - 150x + 1100 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "Factors to
\n" ); document.write( "(2x-20)(2x-55) = 0
\n" ); document.write( "Two solutions
\n" ); document.write( "2x = 55
\n" ); document.write( "x = 27.5
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( "2x = 20
\n" ); document.write( "x = 10 ft strip, the only reasonable solution
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\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "Check this; find the area when dimensions are reduced by 20 ft
\n" ); document.write( "(25-20)*(50-20)_ = 150 sq/ft, which is 12% the original \n" ); document.write( "
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