Problema Solution
A contractor wishes to design a rectangular bathtub with an area of 21ft2. The bathtub will be surrounded by tile on all four sides; 1-foot of tile on the left, right, and bottom, and 2 feet of tile on the top. The total length (bathtub and tile) is to be twice the total width. Find the dimensions of the bathtub only.
Answer provided by our tutors
Let
x = the total width, x>=0
x - 2 = the width without the tiles
2x = the total length
2x - 3 = the length without the tiles
The area of the bathtub without the tiles is 21 ft^2:
(x - 2)(2x - 3) = 21
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click here to see the equation solved for x
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x = 5 ft
We need to ignore the negative solution - 1.5 since the the width can not be negative.
x - 2 = 5 - 2 = 3 ft the width
2x - 3 = 2*5 - 3 = 7 ft the length
The dimensions of the bathtub are: 3 ft and 7 ft.