document.write( "Question 978796: A rectangular parking lot has a width that is eight feet less than its length. Surrounding the parking lot is a sidewalk measuring three feet wide. What are the dimensions of the parking lot if the total area of the parking lot and sidewalk is 2288ft^2? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #600207 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)\"\" \"About 
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A rectangular parking lot has a width that is eight feet less than its length.
\n" ); document.write( " Surrounding the parking lot is a sidewalk measuring three feet wide.
\n" ); document.write( " What are the dimensions of the parking lot if the total area of the parking lot and sidewalk is 2288ft^2?
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "let x = width of the parking lot
\n" ); document.write( "then
\n" ); document.write( "(x+8) = the length
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "The 3' sidewalk adds 6 ft to the length and the width of the parking lot
\n" ); document.write( "An area equation, overall length times overall width
\n" ); document.write( "(x+8+6)*(x+6) = 2288
\n" ); document.write( "(x+14)*(x+6) = 2288
\n" ); document.write( "FOIL
\n" ); document.write( "x^2 + 6x + 14x + 84 = 2288
\n" ); document.write( "Combine to form a quadratic equation
\n" ); document.write( "x^2 + 20x + 84 - 2288 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "x^2 + 20x - 2204 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "You can use the quadratic formula but this will factor to:
\n" ); document.write( "(x+58)(x-38) = 0
\n" ); document.write( "the positive solution is all we want here
\n" ); document.write( "x = 38 ft is the width of the parking lot
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( "38 + 8 = 46 ft is the length
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "Check this by adding 6' to the length and the width and finding the area
\n" ); document.write( "44 * 52 = 2288 \n" ); document.write( "
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