Question

Terry made a quilt that is 6 ft. x 7 ft. He has 63 sq. ft. of fabric he can use to add a border around the quilt. How wide should he make the border to use all the fabric? (The border must be the same width on all four sides.)

Answer 1

a) 4x² + 2(6x + 7x) = 63

4x² + 2(13x) = 63

4x² + 26x - 63 = 0

b) b = 26

c) c = -63

d) 26² - 4(4)(-63) = 676 + 1,008 = 1,684

There are two real solutions: one

positive, one negative. We want the

positive solution.

e) There are no complex solutions.

f) x = (-26 + √1,684)/16

= (-26 + 2√421)/16

= (-13 + √421)/8

= about .9 ft.