SOLUTION: A vegetable gardener has a tilled a piece of soil that measures 6 yards by 12 yards. She wants to put a border of marigolds of the same width within the four sides and leave an are

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Question 982506: A vegetable gardener has a tilled a piece of soil that measures 6 yards by 12 yards. She wants to put a border of marigolds of the same width within the four sides and leave an area of 40 square yards for vegetables. How wide can the border be?
Answer by macston(5194) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
(6yds-x)(12yds-x)=40yds^2
72yds-6xyds-12xyds+x^2=40yds^2
x^2-18xyds+72yds^2=40yds^2
x^2-18xyds+32yds=0
(x-2yds)(x-16yds)=0
x-2yds=0 OR x-16yds=0
x=2yds OR x=16yds x=16yds results in negative measurements, so
x=2 yards ANSWER: The border can be 2 yards wide.