Quadratic Eqn: width o walkway to be installed around garden

[jburgswife30]

A rectangular garden is to be surrounded by a walkway of constant width. The garden's dimensions are 30 ft by 40 ft. The total area, garden plus walkway, is to be 1800 ft2. What must be the width of the walkway to the nearest hundredth? Explain which solution is the correct one. (12 Points)

my answers were 30 and 5.

Would 5 be the width of the walkway because the dimensions are 30 and 40, so the walkway cannot be 30. Is that right?

 

[Deleted member 4993]

Re: Quadratic Equation

A rectangular garden is to be surrounded by a walkway of constant width. The garden's dimensions are 30 ft by 40 ft. The total area, garden plus walkway, is to be 1800 ft2. What must be the width of the walkway to the nearest hundredth? Explain which solution is the correct one. (12 Points)

my answers were 30 and 5.

Would 5 be the width of the walkway because the dimensions are 30 and 40, so the walkway cannot be 30. Is that right?

Since the walkway surrounds the garden - the width can be any number greater than zero.

The garden's dimensions are 30 ft by 40 ft --> if this dimension included the walkway, your argument would have been valid.

 

[jburgswife30]

thank you very much

 

[Deleted member 4993]

However, you may want to make sure that your numerical answers are correct.