document.write( "Question 942634: A piece of sheet metal, w = 20 inches wide, is bent to form the gutter shown in the illustration. If the cross-sectional area is 48 square inches, find the depth of the gutter. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #574704 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! A piece of sheet metal, w = 20 inches wide, is bent to form the gutter shown in the illustration. \n" ); document.write( " If the cross-sectional area is 48 square inches, find the depth of the gutter. \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "let d = the debth of the gutter \n" ); document.write( "let x =the width of the gutter \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "Sort of like this, the width is x \n" ); document.write( " d|__|d \n" ); document.write( "; \n" ); document.write( "We know: 2d + x = 20 \n" ); document.write( "therefore: \n" ); document.write( "x = (20-2d) \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( " and \n" ); document.write( "x*d = 48, the cross-sectional area \n" ); document.write( "Replace x with (20-2d) \n" ); document.write( "d(20-2d) = 48 \n" ); document.write( "A quadratic is equation is formed \n" ); document.write( "-2d^2 + 20d - 48 = 0 \n" ); document.write( "Simplify, divide by -2 \n" ); document.write( "d^2 - 10d + 24 \n" ); document.write( "Factors to \n" ); document.write( "(d-6)(d-4) = 0 \n" ); document.write( "Two solutions \n" ); document.write( "d = 6 \n" ); document.write( "d = 4 \n" ); document.write( "Find x \n" ); document.write( "when d = 6 inches \n" ); document.write( "x = 20 - 2(6) \n" ); document.write( "x = 8 inches wide (6*8=48 square inches) \n" ); document.write( ": \n" ); document.write( "when d = 4 inches \n" ); document.write( "x = 20 - 2(4) \n" ); document.write( "x = 12 inches wide (4*12=48 square inches) \n" ); document.write( " |