<PRE><B>Question 374107</B>
the area of a carpet is 308 sq m .If its length is 2 meters less and its width 6 meters more,the carpet will be square.Find the dimensions of the carpet.

P.S Solving Quadratic Equations by Completing the Square is the topic.

Let x = the width of the carpet
    y = the length of the carpet

1st equation
xy = 308 
 y = 308/x

2nd equation
y-2 = x+6
since y=308/x in 1st equation, the 2nd equation becomes
308/x - 2 = x+6
combine like terms
308/x -x - 8 = 0
multiply both sides by x
308 - x^2 -8x = 0
multiply both sides by -1 and rearrange
x^2 + 8x - 308 = 0
(x+22)(x-14) = 0

x-14 = 0
x    = 14

So y = 300/14 = 22

The width of the carpet is 14 meters and the length of the carpet is 22 meters.

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