SOLUTION: The area of a playground is 160yd^2. The width of the playgroundis 6yd longer than its length. Can you please help me find the length and width of the playground?

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Misc -> SOLUTION: The area of a playground is 160yd^2. The width of the playgroundis 6yd longer than its length. Can you please help me find the length and width of the playground?       Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


    

Question 919760: The area of a playground is 160yd^2. The width of the playgroundis 6yd longer than its length. Can you please help me find the length and width of the playground?
Found 2 solutions by Alan3354, josgarithmetic:
Answer by Alan3354(69443) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The area of a playground is 160yd^2. The width of the playgroundis 6yd longer than its length. Can you please help me find the length and width of the playground?
--------------
You should specify the shape, tho a rectangle is implied by length and width.
------
Try pairs of factors of 160.
1 by 160 NG
2 by 80 NG
etc

Answer by josgarithmetic(39630) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
w and L.
w=L+6.

wL=160
%28L%2B6%29L=160
L%5E2%2B6L=160
highlight_green%28L%5E2%2B6L-160=0%29

Factorization may take time...
Discriminant=6%5E2-4%2A1%2A%28-160%29=36%2B4%2A160=676=26%5E2

L=%28-6%2B-+sqrt%2826%5E2%29%29%2F%282%29
L=%28-6%2B-+26%29%2F2+
Only the PLUS form makes sense.
L=20%2F2
highlight%28L=10%29.
From that, highlight%28w=16%29.


--
The green outlined quadratic is factorable as (L-10)(L+16)=0 and then could be solved this way.