Question

Can someone tell me if I did this correctly?
Essay: Show all work. A gardener wants to create a triangular garden in the shape of a right triangle with shortest side length x – 8y ft. and the middle length side x + 6y ft. What is an algebraic expression for the area of the garden? Be sure to multiply this out and express in simplest correct mathematical form, including units.

x-8yft = shortest side L
x+6yft= middle side length

(x-8y)(x+6y)=
(x)(x)=x^2
(x)(6y)=6xy
(-8y)(x)=-8xy
(-8y)(6y)=-48y^2

A=(x-8y)(x+6y)sq.ft.
A=x^2-8xy+6xy-48yy^2
A=x^2-2xy-48y^2 sq. ft

Answer 1

This would be true if it were a rectangle

Answer 2

But it's a triangle. So you have to take half of this.

Answer 3

how exaxtly do I take half of this? DO I just show my answer divided by two?

Answer 4

You just take the final answer and divide by 2 like so

\[\Large A = \frac{x^2-2xy-48y^2}{2}\]

Answer 5

make sure to show the "divided by 2" part in every previous step to keep it consistent

Answer 6

okay, so my answer would be to divide this out?

Answer 7

yes, you can optionally keep going to get


\[\Large A = \frac{x^2-2xy-48y^2}{2}\]


\[\Large A = \frac{x^2}{2}-\frac{2xy}{2}-\frac{48y^2}{2}\]


\[\Large A = \frac{1}{2}x^2-xy-24y^2\]

Answer 8

ok, that makes sense:) ty

Answer 9

yw