Answer:
x = 17 ft ... ( nearest 10th of a foot )
Step-by-step explanation:
Given:-
- The side length of inner square = x ft
- The side length of outer square = 20 ft
Find:-
Find the side length of the inner square that would make the area of the inner square equal to 75% of the total area of the garden.
Solution:-
- Compute the area of the inner square (A_i) using side length (x):
A_i = side length ^2
A_i = x^2 ft^2
- The area of the entire garden is the area (A_o) of the outer square with side length equal to 20 ft.
A_o = side length ^2
A_o = 20^2
A_o = 400 ft^2
- The 75% of the entire garden is :
(75 / 100)*A_o
(75 / 100)*400
300 ft^2
- The area of the inner square is 75% of the entire garden the mathematical expression for it is:
A_i = 300 ft^2
x^2 = 300 ft^2
- The side length required for the inner square is the solution to the quadratic equation above:
x = √300
x = 17.320508ft.
x = 17 ft ... ( nearest 10th of a foot )