Answer:
(a) when x = 2: width = 2 units and length = 5 units
(b) 546 units²
Explanation:
Given expression:
Part (a)
To factor a quadratic in the form
Find 2 two numbers that multiply to
and sum to
Two numbers that multiply to -24 and sum to -5: -8 and 3
Rewrite
as the sum of these 2 numbers:
Factorize the first two terms and the last two terms separately:
Factor out the common term
:
Therefore:
As distance is positive,
Let
Therefore, possible dimensions of the rectangle are:
width = 2 units
length = 5 units
Part (b)
Substitute
into the equation: