A farmer has 400 feet of fencing she would like to use to make a rectangular enclosure. She would like to maximize the area of t
he enclosure. The graph below shows the square footage of the enclosure, depending on the length of it.
Enclosure with 400-foot Perimeter
12,000
10,000
8,000
Area (square feet)
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
200
50 100 150
Length of Enclosure (feet)
6/(x-8)=2/(x+6) times both sides by (x-8)(x+6) 6(x+6)=2(x-8) distribute 6x+36=2x-16 minus 2x both sides 4x+36=-16 miinus 36 both sides 4x=-52 divide both sides by 4 x=-13