Question

A farmer has 1000 feet of fence a rectangular plot of land. The plot lies along a river so that only has three sides need to be fenced. Find the largest area that can be fenced.

What's the best way to solve this?

Answer 1

The best way to do it is using calculus, but you are in college algebra.

You are looking for length + width + width = 1000 feet because you don't need any for the river side.
L + 2w = 1000 or L = (1000 - 2w)

A = lw
A = (1000-2w)(w)
A = 1000w - 4w^2

Answer 2

120000