Question

The area of a rectangular plot 30 feet long and 20 feet wide will be doubled by creating a border around the plot. Which equation can be used to find the width of the border?

a) 2(x + w) = 30
b) 2(x + w) = 20
c) (30 - 2w)(20 - 2w) = 2(30)(20)
d) (30 + 2w)(20 + 2w) = 2(30)(20)

Answer 1

To find the width of the border, use the equation (30 - 2w)(20 - 2w) = 2(30)(20). The solutions to this equation will give us the possible widths of the border.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the width of the border, we can use the equation (30 - 2w)(20 - 2w) = 2(30)(20).

Simplifying this equation gives us 600 - 100w + 4w^2 = 1200.

Rearranging the equation gives us 4w^2 - 100w + 600 = 0.

This is a quadratic equation, which we can solve using factoring, completing the square, or the quadratic formula. The solutions to this equation will give us the possible widths of the border.