Miles has a square garden in his backyard. He decides to decrease the size of the garden by 1 foot on each side in order to make a gravel border. After he completes his gravel border, the area of the new garden is 25 feet2. In the equation (x - 1)2 = 25, x represents the side measure of the original garden.
Mathematics · Middle School · Tue Nov 03 2020
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Given the equation for the original size of the garden:
( x - 1)2 = 25
Solve for the side.
Solution:
Distribute 2 to each corresponding values inside the equation.
( x - 1)2 = 25
2x - 2 = 25
Transpose 2 on the other side of the equation, note that when transposing a number, the sign changes.
2x = 25 + 2
2x = 27
Divide both sides by 2 in order to find the value of x.
x = 27/2 or 13.5 ft
Final answer:
x = 13.5ft