SOLUTION: Please someone help me quick! My son has 3 more test to take this summer and we are really having a hard time. It's been way too long since I have had math. The problem is: The

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Question 5367: Please someone help me quick! My son has 3 more test to take this summer and we are really having a hard time. It's been way too long since I have had math.
The problem is:
The perimeter of a rectangular field is 60 meters. Its area is 200 square meters. Find its dimensions.
Thank you in advance for your help. I LOVE THIS SITE!!!!!!!!!!
Mom in trouble deep!

Answer by rapaljer(4671) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x = width
y = length

Two equations:
2(x) + 2(y) = 60 Perimeter
xy = 200 Area

In the first equation, life is a lot easier if you divide both sides by 2 and write:
x + y = 30

From this you can solve for y by subtracting x from each side:
x -x + y = 30 - x
y = 30 - x

Now substitute this y = 30 -x into the other equation:
xy = 200
x(30 - x) = 200

Distributive property:

This is quadratic because of the term, so you must set it equal to zero. To avoid the negative term, take it to the right side by adding and to each side.

You can factor this or use the quadratic formula. Can you think of two numbers whose product is 200 and whose sum is 30? (Try 20 and 10!)

or

Remember that y = 30 - x.
If x = 20, then y = 10.
If x = 10, then y = 20.

It is appropriate to think of the width as being 10 meters and the length 20 meters.

R^2 at SCC