Question 452698
Write an equation to represent the situation. Call the width x. Then the length is x + 3. So the area is length times width, or x*(x + 3).
x(x + 3) = 700
x^2 + 3x = 700
x^2 + 3x - 700 = 0
Use the Quadratic formula:
{{{x = (-b +- sqrt( b^2-4*a*c ))/(2*a) }}}
{{{x = (-3 +- sqrt( 3^2-4*1*-700) ))/(2*1) }}}
{{{x = (-3 +- sqrt( 9+2800 ))/(2) }}}
{{{x = (-3 +- sqrt( 2809 ))/(2) }}}
x = 25
So the length is x + 3, or 28. The rectangle is 25 yards wide by 28 yards long. (You also could have factored x^2 + 3x - 700 into (x - 25)(x + 28) to get this answer.