Question 335337
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First of all, the area of the tennis court is NOT 228 feet.  It is 228 <i>square</i> feet.  Yes, it matters.


Let *[tex \Large x] feet represent the measure of the width.  Then *[tex \Large 2x\ +\ 60] feet represents the measure of the length.  The area is the length times the width.


*[tex \LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ (2x\ +\ 60)x\ =\ 228]


See, you are multiplying feet times feet -- it has to be square feet.


Distribute and put the equation into standard form:


*[tex \LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 2x^2\ +\ 60x\ -\ 228\ =\ 0]


Now just solve the quadratic.  You will have to use the quadratic formula because this doesn't factor.  However, read on.


Either your answer is wrong (though the numbers seem reasonable for my idea of the proportions of a tennis court) or the parameters of the problem are WAY out of whack.  If your answer is indeed correct, then the problem should read:


<i>The total area of the tennis court is <b>2808</b> square ft. The length is <b>6</b> more than twice the width.</i>


Given that, your quadratic would be:


*[tex \LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ 2x^2\ +\ 6x\ -\ 2808\ =\ 0]


Which does have a positive root at 36.


John
*[tex \LARGE e^{i\pi} + 1 = 0]
My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it
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