Answer: The number of tomato plants that can be planted in the plot is 54.
Step-by-step explanation: Given that a rectangular garden plot is 18 ft long and 12 ft wide. The owner of the garden wants to plant tomato plants in the plot where each plant needs a space that is approximately 2 ft by 2 ft.
We are to find the best approximation of the number of tomato plants that can be planted in the plot.
Let n denotes the number of tomato plants that can be planted in the plot.
Now, the area of the rectangular garden is
[tex]A_r=18\times12=216~\textup{sq. ft.}[/tex]
And, the area needed by each of the tomato plants is
[tex]A_t=2\times2=4~\textup{sq. ft.}[/tex]
Therefore, the required number of tomato plants that can be planted in the plot is given by
[tex]n=\dfrac{A_r}{A_t}=\dfrac{216}{4}=54.[/tex]
Thus, the number of tomato plants that can be planted in the plot is 54.
