Question 9339
Let x = the phrase at the end of the first sentence, which is to say, 
let x = length.


Then x-8 = width


 LW = Area
 x(x-8) = 20
{{{x^2 - 8x -20 = 0}}}
{{{ (x - 10)(x+2) = 0 }}}
x= 10 and x= -2  


You must reject the negative value, so the 
length x= 10 feet, 
width x-8 = 2 feet.  


The check of course is that LW= 10*2 = 20 ft^2.


R^2 at SCC