document.write( "Question 108339: I have been trying to solve this word problem and could use someone's help(note that the chapter is on quadratic equations):
\n" ); document.write( "A garden area is 30 ft long and 20 ft wide. A path of uniform width
\n" ); document.write( "is set around the edge. If the remaining garden area is 400 ft2, what is the width of the path? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #78976 by stanbon(75887)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A garden area is 30 ft long and 20 ft wide. A path of uniform width
\n" ); document.write( "is set around the edge. If the remaining garden area is 400 ft2, what is the width of the path?
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\n" ); document.write( "Draw the figure of a rectangle surrounding a rectangle
\n" ); document.write( "The inner rectangle has area = 400 ft^2
\n" ); document.write( "The larger rectangle has area = 30*20 = 600 sq. ft.
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\n" ); document.write( "Let the width of the path be \"x\" ft.
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\n" ); document.write( "Then the inner rectangle has dimensions:
\n" ); document.write( "width = 30-2x
\n" ); document.write( "length = 20-2x
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\n" ); document.write( "EQUATION:
\n" ); document.write( "(30-2x)(20-2x)=400
\n" ); document.write( "(15-x)(10-x) = 100
\n" ); document.write( "150-25x+x^2 = 100
\n" ); document.write( "x^2-25x+50 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "x = [25 +- sqrt(25^2-4*40)]/2\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x = [25 +- sqrt(425)]/2\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x = [25 +- 5sqrt(17)]/2\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Realistic answer:
\n" ); document.write( "x = [25-5sqrt(17)]/2
\n" ); document.write( "x = 2.1922.. ft.
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\n" ); document.write( "Cheers,
\n" ); document.write( "Stan H.
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