SOLUTION: the garden is 12 ft longer than it is wide . the area is 64 square feet. how long are the sides

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Question 1041278: the garden is 12 ft longer than it is wide . the area is 64 square feet. how long are the sides
Answer by ikleyn(52781) About Me  (Show Source):
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the garden is 12 ft longer than it is wide . the area is 64 square feet. how long are the sides
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Let x be the half-sum of the length L and the width W.
Then x + 6 = L and x-6 = W.

Since LW = 64, we have

(x+6)*(x-6) = 64,  or  x%5E2+-+36 = 64,  or x%5E2 = 64 + 36 = 100.

Hence, x = sqrt%28100%29 = 10.

Then L = 10+6 = 16, W = 10-6 = 4.

Solved.

This is the way to solve the problem using mental math only.

For more traditional way to solve it using quadratic equations see the lesson
Problems on the area and the perimeter of a rectangle in this site.