SOLUTION: A farmer uses 60metres of fencing to make three sides of a rectangular sheep pen, the fourth side being a wall. Find the length of the shorter sides of the pen if the area enclsed

Question 914378: A farmer uses 60metres of fencing to make three sides of a rectangular sheep pen, the fourth side being a wall. Find the length of the shorter sides of the pen if the area enclsed is 448 metre square

Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
("shorter sides", length to find, so these would not be along the wall).

Dimensions x and y.
Fencing quantity is 60 meters, and area to enclose is 448 sq. m's.

Assuming y is along the wall, and another length y is opposite the wall,
x would be one of the shorter sides.

2x+y=60 to account for the length of fencing
and
xy=448 for the area.

Substitute for y in the area equation:

simplify and solve first for x.

Trying to factor that may be a chore, but the discriminant is , a perfect square.

or
or

Earlier found y=60-2x.
-------------------------
If x=16 then y=28.
If x=14 then y=32.
-------------------------

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