Question 935404
u, size of uniform sptrip;
w, width of rug;
L, length of rug.
Let w=13, and L=15.
b, hardwood border area of uniform width u.
b=60.


Rug area, {{{w*L}}}.
Room area, {{{(w+2u)(L+2u)}}}.
Hardwood border area, {{{(w+2u)(L+2u)-wL}}}.
EQUATION USING BORDER AREA OF THE HARDWOOD:  {{{highlight_green(highlight((w+2u)(L+2u)-wL=b))}}}



You <i>CAN</i> solve this completely in symbols, and then substitute the known and given values last, and evalualte u.