SOLUTION: A rectange shed covers 300 feet of ground. It is 6 feet longer than it is wide. What is the width of the shed to the nearest tenth of a foot? This is what I tried: x = width x

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas -> SOLUTION: A rectange shed covers 300 feet of ground. It is 6 feet longer than it is wide. What is the width of the shed to the nearest tenth of a foot? This is what I tried: x = width x      Log On


   

Question 546819: A rectange shed covers 300 feet of ground. It is 6 feet longer than it is wide. What is the width of the shed to the nearest tenth of a foot?
This is what I tried:
x = width
x + 6 = length
Area of a Rectangle = 300
What I set up: 300 = x(x + 6)
Which then I got: 300 = x^2 +6x
That is all I could figure out.
Answer by Earlsdon(6294) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
What you've done so far is good!
Now you need to solve the resulting quadratic equation for x (the width).
x%5E2%2B6x-300+=+0 Use the quadratic formula: x+=+%28b%2B-sqrt%28b%5E2-4ac%29%29%2F2a where: a = 1, b = 6, and c = -300.
x+=+9-6%2B-sqrt%286%5E2-4%281%29%28-300%29%29%2F2%281%29 which evaluates to:
x+=+-20.578or x+=+14.578 Discard the negative solution as the width (x) must be a positive value.
x+=+14.6
The width is 14.6 feet (to the nearest tenth of a foot).