Open top box word problem

[John35]

Hello i'm having trouble on how to start this problem and any help you could give would be appreciated,

Nancy wants to make an open top box for packing goods by cutting equal squares from each corner of an 11 in by 14 in piece of card board. She figures for versatility the area of the bottom must be 80 in^2. What size square should she cut from each corner?

 

[John35]

Im thinking of setting up the problem like this
(14-2x)(11-2x) = 80

Does it look like im on the right track?

 

[tkhunny]

Your thinking may be good, but your method is not.

WRITE DOWN your definitions. What is 'x'? Write it down.

 

[John35]

x is the side of the square cut from each corner.

 

[skeeter]

Im thinking of setting up the problem like this
(14-2x)(11-2x) = 80
Does it look like im on the right track?

yes ... you have written the correct equation for the base area.

now, solve for x. remember that 0 < x < 5.5

 

[John35]

I got it the solution worked out thanks for the help.

 

[tkhunny]

x is the side of the square cut from each corner.

It is a thing of beauty.