Question 111690
    The length of a rectangular garden is 5 feet longer than the width. The garden is surrounded by a 2 foot wide sidewalk. The sidewalk has an area of 76 square feet. Find the dimensions of the garden. 

    let the width of the garden be = x ft

    then length of the garden will be = (x+5) ft

    Area of the garden = x(x+5) sqft

    After including the measure of side walk on width &length we get the new 

    width & length of the entire garden as, width = (x+4) ft and 

    length = ((5+x+4) = (9+x) ft

    Area of the side walk = Area of the entire garden - Area of the garden excluding the side walk

    i,e   76 = (x+4)(x+9) - x(x+5)

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

          76-36 = 13x-5x
           40 = 8x  => x = 40/8 = 5 ft

    dimensions of the garden is width = 5 ft  and length = (5+5) = 10 ft