document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=105763>Question 105763</A>This question is from textbook <A HREF=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0073016020/algebrahomeworkh>Beginning Algebra</A><BR>\n" );
document.write( ": <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I have a hard time with word problems.  Could you please help me get started on this?  I don't want the answer, just a good jumpstart on how to begin.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The volume of the box is represented by (x^2+5x+6)(x+5).  Find the polynomial that represents the area of the bottom of the box.   \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "It also has the equation x+2 next to a picture of the box. \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I think that the formula for area is:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "A=2LW+2LH+2LW\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "A=Area<BR>\n" );
document.write( "L=length<BR>\n" );
document.write( "W=width<BR>\n" );
document.write( "H=height\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I am really unsure on how to begin this.  Again, if you can get me started in the right direction, I would really appreciate the help.  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #76960 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=bucky><B>bucky(2189)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=bucky><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=76960\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Without seeing the picture of the box that is shown, it's a little difficult to come up<BR>\n" );
document.write( "with the method you need to use.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "First, let's clear up some definitions. The volume of a box is found by multiplying<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the length of the bottom times the width of the bottom times the height of the box.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Therefore, the equation for the volume of the box is V = L*W*H.  You are told that <BR>\n" );
document.write( "the volume of the box in this problem is (x^2 + 5x + 6)(x + 5).  From this you can gather<BR>\n" );
document.write( "that x + 5 is one of the sides of the box. And you can also gather that (x^2 + 5x + 6)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "is the product of the other two sides of the box.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Here is a thought that may help. Notice that the polynomial x^2 + 5x + 6 can be factored <BR>\n" );
document.write( "into the product (x + 2)*(x + 3)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "From this you can say that the dimensions of the box are x + 2 by x + 3 by x + 5<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The question now is which of these three dimensions is the length of the bottom, which is<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the width of the bottom, and which is the height of the box.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Next let's clarify how you find the area of the bottom of the box.  The area of the box's<BR>\n" );
document.write( "bottom is found my multiplying the two sides of the bottom. One of the sides of the bottom<BR>\n" );
document.write( "should be the length and the other side the width. So the area of the bottom of the box<BR>\n" );
document.write( "is given by the equation A = L*W<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The longest of the three sides is x + 5. I'm going to guess that it is the length of the<BR>\n" );
document.write( "bottom. And I'm also going to guess that the x + 2 shown on the picture is the side that<BR>\n" );
document.write( "is the height of the box. This would mean that the width of the bottom of the box is<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x + 3.  The area of the bottom of the box is the product of the length of the bottom<BR>\n" );
document.write( "times the width of the bottom. Therefore, if my guesses are correct, the area of the bottom<BR>\n" );
document.write( "of the box is given by the product of x + 3 and x + 5. You can multiply that out to find<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the answer to your problem.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If my guesses are wrong, you will need to identify which of the three sides is the height<BR>\n" );
document.write( "of the box. Then multiply the remaining two sides together and you should have the answer<BR>\n" );
document.write( "to your problem.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Hope this is enough of a jump start to allow you to work the problem to an answer<BR>\n" );
document.write( "and what's even more important ... to understand what you are doing.<BR>\n" );
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