A carpenter is building a fence around a swimming pool. One side of the pool is next to the house and does not need fencing. The carpenter has 120 feet of fencing and plans to use it all. Solve the equation w + 76 + w = 120 to find the unknown dimension of the enclosed rectangular area.

a. 12 ft

c. 20 ft

b. 22 ft

d. 18 ft

The answer is B. 22ft

The equation goes w + 76 + w = 120 so I'm guessing you're solving for w since that's the only remaining side you haven't discovered so first of all collect like terms:

2w + 76 = 120

Secondly minus 76 from the equation to leave 2w on its own

2w - 76 = 120

BUT whatever you do to one side of the equation you have to do it to the side

2w - 76 = 120 - 76

Which will get you to

2w = 44

To get w on it's own you divide the equation by 2 and like before you must do the same to the other side of the equation to balance it out.

w = 44/2

Therefore w = 22ft