SOLUTION: The length of a rectangular storage room is 6 feet longer than it's width. What are the dimensions of the room if the area of the room is 72 square feet?
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Question 83765: The length of a rectangular storage room is 6 feet longer than it's width. What are the dimensions of the room if the area of the room is 72 square feet? Answer by ptaylor(2198) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let w=width
Then length=w+6
Now we know that the area (A) of a rectangle =l*w, so our equation to solve is:
72=(w+6)*w get rid of parens
72=w^2+6w subtract 72 from both sides
w^2+6w-72=0--------------quadratic in standard form and this quadratic can be factored. The factors are:
(w+12)(w-6)=0
(note: If the A coefficient of a quadratic is 1, then the B coefficient is the sum of the factors of the C coefficient. In this case(12)(-6)=-72 and 12-6=6)
w=-12--------discount negative value for length
w=6 ft--------------------------------width of room
w+6=6+6=12 ft--------------------------------length of room
CK
6*12=72
72=72
also
12-6=6
6=6
