Question 420614
1.) Mary Anne Young has enough grass seeds to cover 400 square feet. 
She wishes to grow grass on a rectangular area that is 9 feet longer than it is wide. What dimensions should the area have?
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width = x
length = x+9
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Area = x(x+9)
400 = x^2+9x
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Solve for "x":
x^2+9x-400 = 0
(x+25)(x-16) = 0
Positive solution:
x = 16 ft. (width)
x+9 = 25 ft. (length)
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2.) Paul and Joan Rice wish to buy floor covering that covers 150 square feet for their large recreation room. They wish to cover a rectangle that is 5 feet longer than it is wide. How wide should the rectangle be?
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Same procedure as used on problem #1.
Cheers,
Stan H.