SOLUTION: A rectangular bedroom is 2 ft longer than it is wide. Its area is 255 ft2. What is the width of the room?

Question 558800: A rectangular bedroom is 2 ft longer than it is wide. Its area is 255 ft2. What is the width of the room?
Answer by rapaljer(4671) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x=width
x+2=length

Area = L*W = 255
x(x+2) = 255
x^2 + 2x - 255 = 0

Do you think it factors? Try 15*17!!
(x+17)(x-15)=0
x=-17 Reject, since you can't have a negative width!

x=15 Width
x+2=17 Length

For additional examples and explanation like this, please see my website, and look for the page on Applications of Quadratic Equations. To go to my website, use the easy-to-spell and easy-to-remember link www.mathinlivingcolor.com. At the very bottom of this page, there is a link that will take you to my Homepage.
Once you are on my Homepage, look for the link "Basic, Intermediate, and College Algebra: One Step at a Time." Choose "Basic Algebra", and look in "Chapter 2," Section 2.11 for a complete, non-traditional explanation that my own students, before I retired, found a lot easier to understand than the published textbooks of that day. My factoring is probably not as difficult as your problem, but if you need help with factoring, then you may want to look at the factoring sections in this very same chapter. You should really like my MATH IN LIVING COLOR pages, where the most difficult problems are solved IN COLOR.

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If anyone needs to contact me, especially about the website, my Email address is rapaljer@seminolestate.edu. I'll be glad to help you find an explanation on my website to help you with your algebra topic!

Dr. Robert J. Rapalje, Retired
Seminole State College of Florida
Altamonte Springs Campus

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