SOLUTION: A photo is 3 inches longer that it is wide. A 2-inch border is placed around the photo making the total area of the photo and border 108in2. What are the dimensions of the photo?

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Question 80788: A photo is 3 inches longer that it is wide. A 2-inch border is placed around the photo making the total area of the photo and border 108in2. What are the dimensions of the photo?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
photo is 3 inches longer that it is wide.
Let x = the width; then (x+3) = length
;
A 2-inch border is placed around the photo making the total area of the photo and border 108in2.
:
The dimension of the photo including the 2" border would be:
Width: x + 2(2) = (x+4)
Length: (x + 3) + 2(2) = (x+7)
:
An area equation:
(x+7) * (x+4) = 108
FOIL
x^2 + 4x + 7x + 28 = 108
x^2 + 11x + 28 - 108 = 0
:
x^2 + 11x - 80 = 0; a quadratic equation
:
(x+16)(x-5) = 0; Factored
:
x = -16
and
x = +5 inches, (positive solution is what we want here
:
What are the dimensions of the photo?
:
Length: 5 + 3 + 4 = 12 inches
Width: 5 + 4 = 9 inches
:
Check by finding the area: 12 * 9 = 108 sq/in