Question 303596
The length of a garden is 5 feet longer than its width.  A 2 foot wide sidewalk
surrounds the garden. The area of the sidewalk is 76 sq. feet.  What are the
dimensions of the garden?

let the width of the garden be x

The length will be x+5 feet

The sidewalk width = 2 feet.

Width of garden + sidewalk = x+4  ( two on either side)

Length of garden + sidewalk = (x+5) +4

Total area = (x+9)(x+4) 

Area of sidewalk = 76

(x+9)(x+4) - x(x+5) = 76

x^2+13x+36 - x^2-5x= 76

8x=76-36

8x = 40

x=5 feet  width of the garden

5+5 = 10 feet is the length of the garden

Ananth