Question

The length of a rectangular garden is 17 feet longer than its width. If the area of the garden is 234 square feet, what are the dimensions of the garden?

Answer 1

The garden is 9 feet wide and 26 feet long.

Explanation:

L = W+17

area = LW = 234

(W+17)W = 234

W²+17W-234 = 0

Quadratic formula

W = [-17 ± √(17² – 4·1(-234))] / [2·1]

 = [-17 ± √1225] / 2

 = [-17 ± 35] /2

 = -26, 9

-26 is an extraneous solution

W = 9

L = W+17 = 26

The garden is 9 feet wide and 26 feet long.