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| Question 886874:  What is the solution for this?
 Please use the 4 methods in quadratic equation to see the answer:
 *extracting the square root
 *Factoring
 *Completing the square
 and *Quadratic Formula
 The length of a rectangular garden is one more than thrice it's width. Its area is 80 m^2. Find the length and the width.
 Much thanks!
 Found 2 solutions by  josgarithmetic, richwmiller:
 Answer by josgarithmetic(39630)
      (Show Source): Answer by richwmiller(17219)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! 
 | Solved by pluggable solver: Factoring using the AC method (Factor by Grouping) |  | 
 Looking at the expression
  , we can see that the first coefficient is  , the second coefficient is  , and the last term is  . 
 
 
 Now multiply the first coefficient
  by the last term  to get  . 
 
 
 Now the question is: what two whole numbers multiply to
  (the previous product) and add to the second coefficient  ? 
 
 
 To find these two numbers, we need to list all of the factors of
  (the previous product). 
 
 
 Factors of
  : 
 1,2,3,4,5,6,8,10,12,15,16,20,24,30,40,48,60,80,120,240
 
 -1,-2,-3,-4,-5,-6,-8,-10,-12,-15,-16,-20,-24,-30,-40,-48,-60,-80,-120,-240
 
 
 
 Note: list the negative of each factor. This will allow us to find all possible combinations.
 
 
 
 These factors pair up and multiply to
  . 
 1*(-240) = -240
 2*(-120) = -240
 3*(-80) = -240
 4*(-60) = -240
 5*(-48) = -240
 6*(-40) = -240
 8*(-30) = -240
 10*(-24) = -240
 12*(-20) = -240
 15*(-16) = -240
 (-1)*(240) = -240
 (-2)*(120) = -240
 (-3)*(80) = -240
 (-4)*(60) = -240
 (-5)*(48) = -240
 (-6)*(40) = -240
 (-8)*(30) = -240
 (-10)*(24) = -240
 (-12)*(20) = -240
 (-15)*(16) = -240
 
 
 Now let's add up each pair of factors to see if one pair adds to the middle coefficient
  : 
 
 
 
 | First Number | Second Number | Sum | | 1 | -240 | 1+(-240)=-239 |  | 2 | -120 | 2+(-120)=-118 |  | 3 | -80 | 3+(-80)=-77 |  | 4 | -60 | 4+(-60)=-56 |  | 5 | -48 | 5+(-48)=-43 |  | 6 | -40 | 6+(-40)=-34 |  | 8 | -30 | 8+(-30)=-22 |  | 10 | -24 | 10+(-24)=-14 |  | 12 | -20 | 12+(-20)=-8 |  | 15 | -16 | 15+(-16)=-1 |  | -1 | 240 | -1+240=239 |  | -2 | 120 | -2+120=118 |  | -3 | 80 | -3+80=77 |  | -4 | 60 | -4+60=56 |  | -5 | 48 | -5+48=43 |  | -6 | 40 | -6+40=34 |  | -8 | 30 | -8+30=22 |  | -10 | 24 | -10+24=14 |  | -12 | 20 | -12+20=8 |  | -15 | 16 | -15+16=1 | 
 
 
 
 From the table, we can see that the two numbers
  and  add to  (the middle coefficient). 
 
 
 So the two numbers
  and  both multiply to  and add to  
 
 
 Now replace the middle term
  with  . Remember,  and  add to  . So this shows us that  . 
 
 
 
  Replace the second term  with  . 
 
 
 
  Group the terms into two pairs. 
 
 
 
  Factor out the GCF  from the first group. 
 
 
 
  Factor out  from the second group. The goal of this step is to make the terms in the second parenthesis equal to the terms in the first parenthesis. 
 
 
 
  Combine like terms. Or factor out the common term  
 
 
 ===============================================================
 
 
 
 Answer:
 
 
 
 So
  factors to  . 
 
 
 In other words,
  . 
 
 
 Note: you can check the answer by expanding
  to get  or by graphing the original expression and the answer (the two graphs should be identical). 
 
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