Pearson Algebra 1 Common Core, 2011
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Pearson Algebra 1 Common Core, 2011 View details
1. The Pythagorean Theorem
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Exercise 44 Page 618

Start by writing an equation for the area of the rectangular field and calculating the area of the garden.

20ft

Practice makes perfect

We are told that Joe plants a rectangular garden in the corner of his field, and the area of the garden is 60 % of the area of the field.

Rectangular Field

In order to find the longest side of the rectangular field, we will first write an equation representing the area of the field A_F.

The Area of the Field
Let's substitute l= 16+2x and w= 12+2x into the formula for the area of a rectangle, and then simplify it.
A_F=l w
A_F=( 16+2x)( 12+2x)
â–Ľ
Simplify right-hand side
A_F=12(16+2x)+2x(16+2x)
A_F=192+24x+2x(16+2x)
A_F=192+24x+32x+4x^2
A_F=192+56x+4x^2
A_F=4x^2+56x+192
Now, let's find the area of the rectangular garden A_G in the same way.
A_G=l w
A_G=( 16)( 12)
A_G=192
We know that the area of the garden A_G is 60 % of the area of the field A_F. Using the fact that the fraction form of 60 % is 60100, we can write an equation to represent the relation between A_G and A_F. A_G=60/100A_F We will now substitute A_F= 4x^2+56x+192 and A_G= 192 into this equation, and simplify it as much as possible.
A_G=60/100A_F
192=60/100( 4x^2+56x+192)
â–Ľ
Simplify
19200=60(4x^2+56x+192)
320=4x^2+56x+192
0=4x^2+56x-128
4x^2+56x-128=0
4(x^2+14x-32)=0
x^2+14x-32=0
Note that we have a quadratic equation. We will now factor the left-hand side.
x^2+14x-32=0
x^2+16x-2x-32=0
x(x+16)-2x-32=0
x(x+16)-2(x+16)=0
(x+16)(x-2)=0
Finally, we will apply the Zero-Product Property.
(x+16)(x-2)=0
lcx+16=0 & (I) x-2=0 & (II)
lx=-16 x-2=0
lx=-16 x=2
The solutions to the equation are x=-16 and x=2. However, since x represents a length, it should be positive. Therefore, we can find the length of the longest side of the field when x= 2 by substituting 2 into the expression for this side length, 16+2x.
16+2x
16+2( 2)
16+4
20
The longest side of the field is 20 feet.