Find the actual length and width of the garden.

Question

The plans for a garden show the dimensions as 8 yards long and 5 yards wide. The actual garden is 5 feet longer and 2 feet narrower than the plans show. Find the actual length and width of the garden. Give your answers in yards and in feet.

Answer 1

Hi, Jane.

Okay, so the original length was 8 yards, but the actual is 5 feet longer:

First we need to convert to feet so we can add the two lengths.

8 yds x 3 ft/yd = 24 feet

Now, add 24 + 5 = 29 feet (length)

 

The original width is 5 yards, but the actual is 2 feet narrower. 

So, again convert yards to feet:

5 yd x 3ft/yd = 15 feet

Now, subtract 15 - 2 = 13 feet (width)

 

So the length is 29 feet which is 29 ft x 1yd/3ft = 29/3 = 9 2/3 yards

 

The width is 13 feet  which is 13/3 = 4 1/3 yards