18*24=432 432/2= 216 Therefore area of text must equal 216. And the margin must be the same width all the way round. Therefore, (24-x)(18-x)=216, 432-24x-18x+x2=216, 216-42x+x2=0, (x-36)(x-6)=0. x=36 and x=6. x cannot be 36 because the paper is not wide enough so x=6cm