Question

One side of a rectangle is 2 m shorter than another side. The area is 360 m2. Write a quadratic equation and solve it to find the length of the longer side of the rectangle

Answer 1

Explanation:

Let one of the side = x

So, other side = x - 2

Area = 360 sq.m

x*(x - 2) = 360

x*x - x * 2 = 360

x² - 2x -360 = 0

x² + 18x - 20x - 18*20 = 0

x(x +18) - 20*(x + 18 ) = 0

(x + 18)(x -20) = 0

{x + 18 is ignored as measurement will not be a negative number}

x - 20 = 0

x = 20

Length of the longer side = 20 m