Question 198593
 A rectangular garden measures 15 m by 24 m. A larger garden is to be made by
 increasing each side length by the same amount. The resulting area is to be 1.5
 times the original area. Find the dimensions of the new garden, to the nearest
 tenth of a meter. Include a diagram in your solution.
:
Find the the original area: 15 * 24 = 360 sq/m
Find the new area: 1.5 * 360 = 540 sq/m
:
Let x = amt added to each dimension to increase the area to 540 sq/m
:
(x+15)(x+24) = 540
FOIL
x^2 + 24x + 15x + 360 - 540 = 0
:
x^2 + 39x - 180 = 0
Use the quadratic formula to find x: a=1; b=39; c=-180
The positive solution: x ~ 4.17 meters
;
;
Check solution, add 4.2 to each dimension
19.2 * 28.2 = 541 ~ 540