SOLUTION: A rectangle parking lot has a length that is 8 yards greater that the width, the area of the parking lot is 240 square yards find the length and the width. Use formula area= length

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas  -> Quadratic Equation Customizable Word Problems -> SOLUTION: A rectangle parking lot has a length that is 8 yards greater that the width, the area of the parking lot is 240 square yards find the length and the width. Use formula area= length      Log On


   

Question 987351: A rectangle parking lot has a length that is 8 yards greater that the width, the area of the parking lot is 240 square yards find the length and the width. Use formula area= length x width
Answer by ikleyn(52776) About Me  (Show Source):
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Let  w  be the width of the parking lot in yards.

Then its length is  w+8  yards,  according to the condition.

The condition says that

w*(w+8) = 240.

Solve it:

w%5E2 + 8w = 240,

w%5E2 + 8w - 240 = 0.

Use the quadratic formula:

x%5B1%2C2%5D = %28-8+%2B-+sqrt%2864+%2B+4%2A240%29%29%2F2 = %28-8+%2B-+sqrt%281024%29%29%2F2 = %28-8+%2B-+32%29%2F2 = -20  OR  12.

The positive root only fits the condition  (the measure should be positive).

So,  the width is 12 yards.

The length is  12 + 8 = 20 yards.