Answer:
Part a) ![A(x)=(-x^2+240x)\ m^2](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=A%28x%29%3D%28-x%5E2%2B240x%29%5C%20m%5E2)
Part b) The side length x that give the maximum area is 120 meters
Part c) The maximum area is 14,400 square meters
Step-by-step explanation:
The picture of the question in the attached figure
Part a) Find a function that gives the area A(x) of the playground (in square meters) in terms of x
we know that
The perimeter of the rectangular playground is given by
![P=2(L+W)](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=P%3D2%28L%2BW%29)
we have
![P=480\ m\\L=x\ m](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=P%3D480%5C%20m%5C%5CL%3Dx%5C%20m)
substitute
![480=2(x+W)](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=480%3D2%28x%2BW%29)
solve for W
![240=x+W\\W=(240-x)\ m](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=240%3Dx%2BW%5C%5CW%3D%28240-x%29%5C%20m)
<u><em>Find the area of the rectangular playground</em></u>
The area is given by
![A=LW](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=A%3DLW)
we have
![L=x\ m\\W=(240-x)\ m](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=L%3Dx%5C%20m%5C%5CW%3D%28240-x%29%5C%20m)
substitute
![A=x(240-x)\\A=-x^2+240x](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=A%3Dx%28240-x%29%5C%5CA%3D-x%5E2%2B240x)
Convert to function notation
![A(x)=(-x^2+240x)\ m^2](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=A%28x%29%3D%28-x%5E2%2B240x%29%5C%20m%5E2)
Part b) What side length x gives the maximum area that the playground can have?
we have
![A(x)=-x^2+240x](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=A%28x%29%3D-x%5E2%2B240x)
This function represent a vertical parabola open downward (the leading coefficient is negative)
The vertex represent a maximum
The x-coordinate of the vertex represent the length that give the maximum area that the playground can have
Convert the quadratic equation into vertex form
![A(x)=-x^2+240x](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=A%28x%29%3D-x%5E2%2B240x)
Factor -1
![A(x)=-(x^2-240x)](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=A%28x%29%3D-%28x%5E2-240x%29)
Complete the square
![A(x)=-(x^2-240x+120^2)+120^2](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=A%28x%29%3D-%28x%5E2-240x%2B120%5E2%29%2B120%5E2)
![A(x)=-(x^2-240x+14,400)+14,400](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=A%28x%29%3D-%28x%5E2-240x%2B14%2C400%29%2B14%2C400)
![A(x)=-(x-120)^2+14,400](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=A%28x%29%3D-%28x-120%29%5E2%2B14%2C400)
The vertex is the point (120,14,400)
therefore
The side length x that give the maximum area is 120 meters
Part c) What is the maximum area that the playground can have?
we know that
The y-coordinate of the vertex represent the maximum area
The vertex is the point (120,14,400) -----> see part b)
therefore
The maximum area is 14,400 square meters
Verify
![x=120\ m](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=x%3D120%5C%20m)
![W=(240-120)=120\ m](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=W%3D%28240-120%29%3D120%5C%20m)
The playground is a square
![A=120^2=14,400\ m^2](https://tex.z-dn.net/?f=A%3D120%5E2%3D14%2C400%5C%20m%5E2)