SOLUTION: the width of a garden is 2 ft. less than its length. The area of the garden is 80 ft^2. Find the length and width of the garden. Show equation.

Algebra ->  Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations  -> Linear Equations and Systems Word Problems -> SOLUTION: the width of a garden is 2 ft. less than its length. The area of the garden is 80 ft^2. Find the length and width of the garden. Show equation.      Log On


   

Question 688397: the width of a garden is 2 ft. less than its length. The area of the garden is 80 ft^2. Find the length and width of the garden. Show equation.
Answer by teentutor(5) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
equation for the area of a rectangle is length x width = area. now, since the equation states that the width = length - 2, we can easily solve for the length, then substitute to find the width. First, plug in all of the information given into the area formula, getting length x width = 80. Now, since we figured out that width = length-2, plug that in, so you will get length x length-2 = 80. Next, simplify the equation to length^2 - 2(length) = 80. After, by guessing and checking, you will figure out that length = 8. Next, since width = length-2, plug in the length value that we already figured out, 8. So , the new equation is width = 8-2, simplified to width = 6. Finally, you have figured out length = 8 and width = 6.