<PRE><B>Question 623696</B>

The area of a rectangular plot 24 feet long and 16 feet wide will be doubled by adding an equal distance to each side of the plot. What is the distance added to each side?


Area = 24 * 16, or 384 sq ft
Doubling this area makes it 384 * 2, or 768 sq ft


Let distance added to each side of rectangle be D
Then: (24 + D)(16 + D) = 768


{{{384 + 40D + D^2 = 768}}}


{{{D^2 + 40D - 384 = 0}}}


(D + 48)(D - 8) = 0


D, or distance added to each side = - 48 (ignore), or {{{highlight_green(8)}}} ft


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Check
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(24 + 8) * (16 + 8) = 768


32 * 24 = 768


768 = 768 (TRUE)


Send comments and “thank-yous” to “D” at  MathMadEzy@aol.com</PRE>