Question

(I do not want a direct answer to this. I would like help on learning how to answer this, please. Thank you!) Marcie wants to enclose her yard with a fence. Her yard is in the shape of a triangle attached to a rectangle. See the figure below. (http://learn.flvs.net/webdav/educator_algebraI_v17/module02/images/02_07_assessment/shape_of_yard.jpg) The area of this figure can be found by the formula A = (wh) + 0.5(bh). If Marcie wants the total area to be larger than a specified value, she can use the formula A > (wh)+ 0.5(bh). Rewrite this formula to solve for b. Show all steps in your work.

Answer 1

Only people in FLVS will be able to see the figure.

A > (wh) + 0.5(bh)

you want to rewrite that to solve for b.

To solve for a variable, you need to manipulate the equation to isolate that variable on one side, with everything else on the other. You can add, subtract, multiply, divide, take square roots, and so forth; the catch is that you have to do the same thing to both sides of the equation.

For this equation, you'll want to move that (wh) term to the left. You could do that by subtracting it from both sides. That will leave you with an expression on the left, and 0.5*b*h on the right. If you want b alone, then you need to divide both sides of the equation by whatever is being multiplied with b.

Division in an inequality is a bit tricky: remember that if you divide by a negative number, you change the direction of the inequality sign. Not an issue here, but a trap to watch for when solving inequalities.