Question

Please help. I need to convert this text into a trinomial equation.

I have a 10x12" photo. I want to scan it and reduce it by 1/8 of the original size.

Thanks

Answer 1

Your wording is not clear, but I will assume you want to maintain the proportion of the original photo, and reduce it to 1/8 of its original area.

let the new width be x and
the new height be y
so 10/12 = x/y
5y = 6x
y = 6x/5

second relation:
xy = 10(12)/8
xy = 15
x(6x)/5 = 15
6x^2 = 75
x = √(75/6) = 3.5355
then y = 4.2426

check: 3.5355/4.2426 = .833333
and 10/12 = .833333.. OK

xy = 3.5355(4.2426) = 14.9997
1/8(120) = 15

what do you think?