a rectangle sandbox is surrounded on all sides

Question

A rectangular sandbox is surrounded on all sides by a strip of grass that is 55 feet wide on all sides. The length of the sandbox is 44 feet more than the? width, and the total area for the sandbox and the grass is 189 square feet. Find the dimensions of the sandbox.

Answer 1

Draw and label a diagram!

w represents the width of the sandbox

w + 44 represents the length of the sandbox

 

w + 110 represents the width of the box and grass

w + 44 + 110 represents the length of the box and grass

 

189 = (w + 110)(w + 154)

 

Can you solve for w?