yet another word problem

[jerzey]

a rectangular garden us to be surrounded by a wlk way of constant width the gardens dimensions are 30 by 40 ft. the total area garden plus wlkway is to be 1800ft. what must be the width of the walkway to the nearest thousandth?

 

[stapel]

garden:
length: 40
width: 30
area: (40)(30)

Pick a variable -- say, "x" -- for the width of the walkway.

garden-plus-walkway:
length: x + 40 + x
width: x + 30 + x
area: ...?

Finish the table. Simplify the expressions. Set the garden-plus-walkway "area" expression equal to the given total area. Solve the quadratic.

Eliz.