Chapter 2: Problem 64
A 24-by-36-inch sheet of paper is to be used for a poster, with the shorter side at the bottom. The margins at the sides and top are to have the same width, and the bottom margin is to be twice as wide as the other margins. Find the width of the margins if the printed area is to be \(661.5 \mathrm{in}^{2}\).
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Define the Variables
Express Dimensions of the Printed Area
Set Up the Equation for Printed Area
Expand and Simplify the Equation
Solve the Quadratic Equation
Calculate with Quadratic Formula
Verify the Solution
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Poster Dimensions
- Side margins - which are equal on both vertical sides.
- Top margin - which is equal to the side margins.
- Bottom margin - which is twice as wide as the side and top margins.
Printed Area Calculation
- Subtracting the total of both side margins from the width of the poster:
\( 24 - 2x \) - Subtracting the total of the top and bottom margins from the height of the poster:
\( 36 - (x + 2x) = 36 - 3x \) - Multiplying these dimensions to get the area:
\((24 - 2x)(36 - 3x) = 661.5\)
Algebraic Problem Solving
- The area formula set to the given target:
\((24 - 2x)(36 - 3x) = 661.5\) - Expand and simplify:
\[6x^2 - 144x + 864 = 661.5\] - Subtract the constant term from both sides to form a standard quadratic:
\[6x^2 - 144x + 202.5 = 0\]
- The discriminant, \(b^2 - 4ac\), confirms real roots.
- The formula is used: \(x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}\)