SOLUTION: A grass-plot, 18 yards long and 12 wide, is surrounded by a border of flowers of a uniform width. The areas of the grass-plot and border are equal. What is the width of the border?

Algebra ->  Equations -> SOLUTION: A grass-plot, 18 yards long and 12 wide, is surrounded by a border of flowers of a uniform width. The areas of the grass-plot and border are equal. What is the width of the border?      Log On


   

Question 1079164: A grass-plot, 18 yards long and 12 wide, is surrounded by a border of flowers of a uniform width. The areas of the grass-plot and border are equal. What is the width of the border?
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x, the uniform width of the flower border

total area of the yard plus flower border: %2818%2B2x%29%2812%2B2x%29

Just the yard area: 18%2A12

Just the border area: 18%2A12%2B60x%2B4x%5E2-18%2A12=4x%5E2%2B60x

Area of grass-plot yard and of the surrounding border are equal.
highlight_green%284x%5E2%2B60x=18%2A12%29
Solve this for the border width, x.