Question

Two cabins on opposite banks of a river are 12x^2-7x+5 feet apart. One cabin is 9x+1 feet from the river. The other cabin is 3x^2+4 feet from the river. Write the polynomial that represents the width of the river where it passes between the two cabins. Then calculate the width if x=3

Answer 1

start by drawing a diagram



so subtract the 2 cabin distances from the total distance... that will give the width of the river.

by my best guess I think the river is

\[9x^2 - 16x \]

wide, you need to check this.

the substitute x = 3 into the river width to get a value

hope it helps