Consider c as the cost of the widget so that our given equation is
c = 0.1w^2 + 20w
Take the derivate of the equation.
d/dt (c = 0.1w^2 + 20w)
dc/dt = 0.2w + 20
Given dc/dt = $16000 per month, the number of widgets would contain:
16000 = 0.2w + 20
-0.2w = 20 - 16000
-0.2w = -15980
w = 79900 widgets
You would divide 7 by 4. (7/4) each section would be 1.75 miles :)