SOLUTION: A homeowner hires a mason to lay a brick border around a rectangular patio that measures 8 ft by 10 ft. If the total area of the patio and border is 195 ft2, what is the width of t

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Question 966313: A homeowner hires a mason to lay a brick border around a rectangular patio that measures 8 ft by 10 ft. If the total area of the patio and border is 195 ft2, what is the width of the border?
Answer by macston(5194) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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W=width of border
%288%2BW%29%2810%2BW%29=Area
W%5E2%2B18W%2B80=195 Subtract 195 from each side.
W%5E2%2B18W-115=0
%28W%2B23%29%28W-5%29=0
W%2B25=0 or W-5=0
W=-25 or W=5
ANSWER: The width of the border is 5 feet.
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CHECK:
%288ft%2BW%29%2810ft%2BW%29=195ft%5E2
%288ft%2B5ft%29%2810ft%2B5ft%29=195ft%5E2
%2813ft%29%2815ft%29=195ft%5E2
195ft%5E2=195ft%5E2