Final answer:
To find the width of the garden, divide the area (3/7 square miles) by the length (2/8 miles, simplified to 1/4 miles) and multiply by the reciprocal of the length. The width of the garden is 12/7 miles, approximately 1.71 miles.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the width of the garden, we must use the area and length given. The area of a rectangle is calculated by multiplying the length and width together. In this case, the garden has an area of 3/7 square miles and a length of 2/8 miles. To solve for the width, we divide the area by the length:
Width = Area ÷ Length
Width = (3/7) ÷ (2/8)
First simplify the length: 2/8 miles is equivalent to 1/4 miles because 2 and 8 have a common factor of 2. The expression thus becomes:
Width = (3/7) ÷ (1/4)
To divide by a fraction, you multiply by its reciprocal:
Width = (3/7) × (4/1)
Width = 3/7 × 4
Width = 12/7 or approximately 1.71 miles.
So, the width of the garden is 12/7 miles or approximately 1.71 miles when expressed as a decimal.