Question

A rectangular flower bed is enlarged so that its area increases by 15 yd².

The enlarged flower bed is a rectangle and its area is x2+8x+15 yd².

What expressions represent the dimensions of the flower bed before the increase?

Enter your answers in the boxes.
_____ yd and _____ yd

Answer 1

First, we subtract 15 yd² from the area given. Doing so, will give us an answer of,
x² + 8x
This expression can be factored out as (x + 8)(x). Thus, the dimensions of the flowed bed before its area is increased by 15 yd² are (x + 8) yd and (x) yd.