Are you sure the question has both inches and meters?
"A rectangular garden plot is 10in longer than is it wide."
10 inches = 0.254 meters
L = W + 10 in
L = W + 0.254 m
area = LW
= (W+0.254)W
= W² + 0.254W
"If the length is increased by 1 meter and the width is decreased by 2 meters, the area is decreased by 42 m squared."
new area = (L+1)(W-2)
= (W+0.254+1)(W-2)
= (W+1.254)(W-2)
= W² - 0.746W - 2.508
area - new area = 42 m²
(W²+0.254W) - (W²-0.746W-2.508) = 42
W + 2.508 = 42
W = 39.492 m
L = 39.746
