Question 824759:  The width of a rectangle is 2 cm less than a side of a square, and the length is 1 cm more than a side of a square. If the area of the rectangle is 28 cm^2, find the length of a side of the square. 
 Answer by TimothyLamb(4379)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! --- 
x = side of square 
y = length of rect 
z = width of rect 
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z = x - 2 
y = x + 1 
yz = 28 
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z = 28/y 
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z = x - 2 
z = 28/y 
x - 2 = 28/y 
y(x - 2) = 28 
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y(x - 2) = 28 
y = x + 1 
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(x + 1)(x - 2) = 28 
xx - x - 2 = 28 
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xx - x - 30 = 0 
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the above quadratic equation is in standard form, with a=1, b=-1, and c=-30 
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to solve the quadratic equation, by using the quadratic formula, copy and paste this: 
1 -1 -30 
into this solver: https://sooeet.com/math/quadratic-equation-solver.php 
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this quadratic has two real roots (the x-intercepts), which are: 
x = 6 
x = -5 
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the negative root does not fit the problem statement, so use the positive root 
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answer: 
x = side of square = 6 cm 
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Solve quadratic equations, quadratic formula: 
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--- 
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