SOLUTION: Hello! Please help me with this questions. I am very confused! The area of a rectangular rug is given by the polynomial x^2 4x. The variable x represents the width of the rug i

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: Hello! Please help me with this questions. I am very confused! The area of a rectangular rug is given by the polynomial x^2 4x. The variable x represents the width of the rug i      Log On


   



Question 1065138: Hello! Please help me with this questions. I am very confused!
The area of a rectangular rug is given by the polynomial x^2
4x. The variable x represents the width of the rug in feet.
a. factor the polynomial. How does the length of the rug compare to the width of the rug?
b. The rug has an area of 21 square feet. Make a table to find the value of x that gives the required area.
c. What are the dimensions of the rug? Explain how you know?
Thank you in advance for your help!

Answer by addingup(3677) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If the area is x^2 your rug is not a rectangle but a square. no wonder you're confused, so am I. This would factor simply as (x)(x) or x(x)
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4x: Is this the length of the rug? The length is 4*width?
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The rug has an area of 21. Only four whole numbers when multiplied give you a product of 21: 7 and 3, and 21 and 1. Now, if you can do decimals... well, then you have a lot of choices.
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The dimensions of the rug? This was just discussed above.