SOLUTION: An existing garden is the shape of a rectangle with a length of 15 ft and a width of 9 ft. A border of shrubs is to be placed around the garden. The border will have the same width

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Question 138086: An existing garden is the shape of a rectangle with a length of 15 ft and a width of 9 ft. A border of shrubs is to be placed around the garden. The border will have the same width all the way around the garden. Enough shrubs are needed to fill the +256+ft%5E2+ area formed by the border. What is the width of the border?
Answer by scott8148(6628) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
let x=width __ area=garden+border __ (9+2x)(15+2x)=9*15+256 __ 9*15+48x+4x^2=9*15+256

subtracting 9*15+256 __ 4x^2+48x-256=0 __ dividing by 4 __ x^2+12x-64=0

factoring __ (x+16)(x-4)=0 __ x=-16 and x=4 (-16 not realistic)