SOLUTION: One of my biggest problems in algebra is figuring how to turn a word problem into a solution so that i can solve it. For instance, A rectangular parking lot is 50 ft longer than it

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Question 144734: One of my biggest problems in algebra is figuring how to turn a word problem into a solution so that i can solve it. For instance, A rectangular parking lot is 50 ft longer than it is wide. Determine the dimensions of the parking lot if it measures 250 ft diagonally.
Found 2 solutions by crystel, jim_thompson5910:
Answer by crystel(1) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
thi may include the arabic voltage based on a mimic compentancy.thi+may+include+the+arabic+voltage+based+on+a+mimic+compentancy.{xc=2-1 *100=250
simple arabic expressions may be concidered when writing algebraric statements such as:
5533 *2634643*166363 ghdf fsfcv vivid icity may cause tooo u8ch of one per gamond=[5-1-50=521 ]]] in other terms such as the basic forieng type

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let W=width, L=length

Since the "parking lot is 50 ft longer than it is wide", this means that L=W%2B50


L%5E2%2BW%5E2=250%5E2 Start with Pythagoreans theorem


%28W%2B50%29%5E2%2BW%5E2=250%5E2 Plug in L=W%2B50



W%5E2%2B100W%2B2500%2BW%5E2=62500 Foil %28W%2B50%29%5E2. Square 250 to get 62,500.


W%5E2%2B100W%2B2500%2BW%5E2-62500=0 Subtract 62,500 from both sides


2W%5E2%2B100W-60000=0 Combine like terms



2%28W%2B200%29%28W-150%29=0 Factor the left side (note: if you need help with factoring, check out this solver)



Now set each factor equal to zero:
W%2B200=0 or W-150=0

W=-200 or W=150 Now solve for W in each case


So our answer is
W=-200 or W=150


Discarding the negative width, the only answer is W=150 . So the width is 150 feet.

L=W%2B50 Go back to the first equation


L=150%2B50 Plug in W=150


L=200 Add


So the width is 150 feet and the length is 200 feet