Question

The length of a rectangular floor is 2 feet more than its width. The area of the floor is 168 square feet. Kim wants to use a rug in the middle of the room and leave a 2-foot border of the floor visible on all sides. What should the length (the shorter side) of the rug be

Answer 1

8 ft

Explanation:

let width = x

then length= x+2

Area = l(w)

=x(x+2)

168 = x^2 + 2x

x^2 + 2x-168=0

Using quadratic formula we get roots :

x= 12, x=-14

x= 12 (as width cannot be in negative)

then length= x+2 = 14

length of rug= length of floor - 4

= 14- 4

= 10

width of rug= width of floor- 4

= 12-4

= 8

Hence the length (the shorter side) of the rug be 8 feet !