SOLUTION: a rectangular yard is 10 feet longer than it is wide. the area of the yard is 119 square feet. find the length and the width of the yard.

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Question 461488: a rectangular yard is 10 feet longer than it is wide. the area of the yard is 119 square feet. find the length and the width of the yard.
Answer by algebrahouse.com(1659) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x = width
x + 10 = length {yard is 10 feet longer than it is wide}

Area of a rectangle = width x length

x(x + 10) = 119 {area is width x length}
x² + 10x = 119 {used distributive property}
x² + 10x - 119 = 0 {subtracted 110 from both sides}
(x + 17)(x - 7) = 0 {factored into two binomials}
x + 17 = 0 or x - 7 = 0 {set each factor equal to 0}
x = -17 or x = 7 {solved each equation for x}
x = 7 {width cannot be negative}
x + 10 = 17 {substituted 7, in for x, into x + 10}

width = 7 ft
length = 17 ft
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