SOLUTION: Your community wants to put a square fountain in a park. Around the fountain will be a sidewalk that is 3.5ft wide. The total area that the fountain and sidewalk can be is 700ft^2.

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas  -> Quadratic Equations Lessons  -> Quadratic Equation Lesson -> SOLUTION: Your community wants to put a square fountain in a park. Around the fountain will be a sidewalk that is 3.5ft wide. The total area that the fountain and sidewalk can be is 700ft^2.      Log On


   

Question 433242: Your community wants to put a square fountain in a park. Around the fountain will be a sidewalk that is 3.5ft wide. The total area that the fountain and sidewalk can be is 700ft^2. What are the dimensions of the fountain?
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let s = a side of the square fountain
The walk adds 2%2A3.5+=+7 ft to the width
given:
+%28s+%2B+7%29%5E2+=++700+
Take the square root of both sides
+s+%2B+7+=+10%2Asqrt%287%29+
+s+=+26.457+-+7+
+s+=+19.457+
The fountain measures 19.457 x 19.457 ft2