A picture measuring 5cm by 8cm is mounted on a frame so as to leave a uniform margin of width X cm all round .if the area of the margin is 30cm² ,find x

3 answers

(5+2x)(8+2x) - 5*8 = 30
now solve for x
The margin has a rectangle at the top and bottom its length = 5 cm

Its area = 5 ∙ x

That means margin has two rectangles of area 5 x

The margin also has a rectangle on the left and right sides its length = 8 - x - x = 8 - 2 x

Its area = ( 8 - 2 x ) ∙ x

That means margin has two rectangles of area ( 8 - 2 x ) ∙ x

Total area of margin is:

2 ∙ 5 x + 2 ∙ ( 8 - 2 x ) ∙ x = 30 cm²

10 x + 2 ∙ ( 8 x - 2 x² ) = 30

10 x + 16 x - 4 x² = 30

- 4 x² + 26 x = 30

Now you must solve this equation.

Multiply both sides by - 1

4 x² - 26 x = - 30

Add 30 to both sides

4 x² - 26 x + 30 = 0

The solutions are:

x = 3 / 2 = 1.5 cm

and

x = 5 cm

The margin cannot be 5 cm, because in this case the length of the rectangle at the top and bottom of the picture would be:

5 - 2 x = 5 - 2 ∙ 5 = 5 - 10 = - 5 cm

This is impossible because the length of the rectangle cannot be negative.

So the solution is:

x = 1.5 cm
Yes