Question

The area of the floor in a storage unit is advertised as 171 square feet, Brett calls the facility and is told that the length of the unit is 10 feet longer than its width. Which of the following one of the two dimensions of the unit?

a. 3 FT
b. 4 FT
c. 19 FT
d. 23 FT

Answer 1

C. 19 ft

Explanation:

Let

Width = x

Length = x + 10

Area = 171 ft²

Area of the floor = length × width

171 = x + 10 * x

171 = x² + 10x

x² + 10x - 171 = 0

Solve the quadratic equation using factorization method

Factors are 19x and -9x

x² + 19x - 9x - 171 = 0

x(x + 19) -9(x + 19) = 0

(x + 19) (x - 9) = 0

x = -19 or x = 9

The value of x can not be negative

Therefore, x = 9 ft

Width = x

= 9 ft

Length = x + 10

= 9 + 10

= 19 ft