Question

The length of a table is 16 inches more than its width. If the area of the table is 720 square inches, of what is it’s length?

Answer 1

Let the width of the table be = x inches

As the length of a table is 16 inches more than its width, so length = x+16

Area of the rectangular table = 720 square inches

Area of rectangle =
`length*width`

`720=x(x+16)`

`720=x^(2)+16x`

`x^(2)+16x-720=0`

`x^(2)+36x-20x-720=0`

`x(x+36)-20(x+36)=0`

`(x-20)(x+36)=0`

`x=20` and
`x=-36`

Neglect the negative value as length and width cannot be negative

So, width = 20 inches

Length = x+16 = 20+16 = 36 inches

Hence, length is 36 inches and width is 20 inches.