SOLUTION: A rectangular patio is 4yards longer than it is wide. The area is 448 square feet. What is the width in feet?

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Question 965808: A rectangular patio is 4yards longer than it is wide. The area is 448 square feet. What is the width in feet?
Answer by MathLover1(20850) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
if a rectangular patio is 4yd longer than it is wide, then L=W%2B4yd
1yd=3ft, so L=W%2B12ft

if the area is A=448ft%5E2, then
L%2AW=448ft%5E2....substitute L
%28W%2B12ft%29%2AW=448ft%5E2

W%5E2%2B12ft%2AW=448ft%5E2
W%5E2%2B12ft%2AW-448ft%5E2=0...factor completely
W%5E2%2B28ft%2AW-16ft%2AW-448ft%5E2+=+0......group
%28W%5E2%2B28ft%2AW%29-%2816ft%2AW%2B448ft%5E2+%29=+0
W%28W%2B28ft%29-16ft%28W%2B28ft%29=+0
%28W-16ft%29%28W%2B28ft%29+=+0
solutions:
if
%28W-16ft%29+=+0=>W=16ft
if
%28W%2B28ft%29+=+0=>W=-28ft=>the width cannot be negative, so disregad this solution
so, the width in feet is W=16ft
and the length is L=16ft%2B12ft=>L=28ft