document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=1166545>Question 1166545</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> A man mows his 25 foot by 200 foot rectangular lawn in a spiral pattern starting from the outside edge. After a bit of hard work he stops for a water break he is 82% done. How wide of a strip has he mowed around the outside edge?  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #791079 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><B>greenestamps(13200)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=greenestamps><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=greenestamps><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=791079\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "This is an example of a problem that is solved far more easily informally than with formal algebra.  So I will explain what I would do if I were working this problem and a formal algebraic solution was required.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "82% done means 18% remains; 18% of 200*25 feet is 900 square feet.  If the width of the strip is x, then<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28200-2x%29%2825-2x%29+=+900 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28200-2x%29%2825-2x%29+=+900\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5000-450x%2B4x%5E2+=+900 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5000-450x%2B4x%5E2+=+900\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4x%5E2-450x%2B4100+=+0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4x%5E2-450x%2B4100+=+0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2x%5E2-225x%2B2050+=+0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2x%5E2-225x%2B2050+=+0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "UGH! That looks REALLY nasty....<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Instead of trying to factor that, I would stop at this point and solve the problem with logical reasoning and some simple mental arithmetic; then come back to my formal algebraic solution.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "width 5 --> 190*15 = 2850<BR>\n" );
document.write( "width 10 --> 180*5 = 900<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "AHA! the answer is 10.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "So now back to the formal algebra.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x-10%29%282x-205%29+=+0 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x-10%29%282x-205%29+=+0\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The second possible solution is rejected, since it makes no sense in the original problem.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( "ANSWER: The strip is 10 feet wide.<br><BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );