Designers want a border's length to be 5 ft greater than its width. A maximum of 180 ft is to be used. Solve an inequality that has possible widths.

Expert Answers

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We have a rectangle with width x ft., so the length is (x+5 ft.). The perimeter, or length of the border is equal to 2x+2(x+5 ft.) and cannot be longer than 180ft. This can be expressed as:

`2x+2(x+5)<=180`

`2x+2x+10<=180`

`4x+10<=180`

`4x<=180-10`

`x<=170/4`

`x<=42.5 ft.`

Thus the width needs to be less than 42.5 ft.

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