A rectangular garden is designed such that its length is 3 feet longer than its width. If the garden's area is 1480 square feet, what is its perimeter?

Answer 1

Length = 3 feet longer than width

L = 3+w

A= Lw = 1480

(3+w)w = 1480

w^2 +3w -1480 = 0

factor

(w+40)(w-37) = 0

w = 37 feet wide

L = 40 feet Long

P =2(w+L) =2(77 = 154 feet in perimeter

had the problem been instead as follows then

L = 3+2w feet

Lw = 1480 square feet

replace L with 3+2w in 2nd equation to get

(3+2w)w = 1480

2w^2 +3w -1480 = 0 solve by factoring, completing the square, using the quadratic formula or by graphing. take your pick

w = -3/4 +/- .25sqr(9 +4(2)(1480)) = -.75 +.25(108.85) = about 27.213 -.75 = 26.463 feet = width

L = about 29.463 feet = Length

P=Perimeter = 2(L+2) = 2(26.463 +29.463 = 2(55.926) = 111.852 feet