I have a word problem I need solved

Question

jane has 312 feet of fencing to use to enclose a rectangular garden. she wants the garden to be 5 times as long as it is wide. what are the dimensions of the garden?

Answer 1

Let L = the garden's length and W = its width.  Since you have two unknowns, L and W, you need two equations to solve for the unknowns:

• Jane has 312 feet of fencing: 312 = 2L + 2W      [2L + 2W is the perimeter]
• She wants the garden to be 5 times as long as it is wide:  L = 5W

 

Since L = 5W, substitute 5W in place of L in the first equation:

 

312 = 2L + 2W

 

312 = 2(5W) + 2W

 

312 = 10W + 2W

 

312 = 12W

 

Solve for W.  Once you have the value of W, L = 5W.