SOLUTION: Mr.Jon's garden covered 300 square feet. If the width was 5 feet less than the length, find the measurements of the garden.

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Question 91542: Mr.Jon's garden covered 300 square feet. If the width was 5 feet less than the length, find the measurements of the garden.
Answer by praseenakos@yahoo.com(507) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Question:

Mr.Jon's garden covered 300 square feet. If the width was 5 feet less than the length, find the measurements of the garden.


Answer:
Area of the garden = 300 square feet.

Assume that length = 'x' feet

Then width = x - 5 feet

Area = length * width

that is...
300 = x * (x -5 )

==> 300+=+x%5E2+-+5x

Subtract 300 from both sides....

==> 300+-+300++=+x%5E2+-+5x+-+300

==> 0+=+x%5E2+-+5x+-+300+, which is a quadratic equation...
You can solve it using quadratic formula

x+=+%28-%28-5%29+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-5%29%5E2-4%2A1%2A%28-300%29+%29%29%2F%282%2A1%29+

x+=%28%285%29+%2B-+sqrt%28+1225%29%29%2F%282%29+

==> x+=%28%285%29+%2B-+35%29%2F2+

==> x+=%28%285%29++%2B+35%29%2F2+ or x+=%28%285%29++-+35%29%2F2+


==> x+=%2840%29%2F2+ or x+=-30%2F2+


==> x+=20 or x+=+-15+

Hence the value of x

That is length = 20 feet or 15feet

Measurements:
When length = 20 feet, width = 20 - 5 = 15 feet

When length = -15 feet, width = -15 -5 = -20 feet.

Hope you found the explanation useful.

Regards.
Praseena.