The Shelby University rose garden is a rectangular shape with an area of 192 square feet. The dimensions of the garden are x^2 feet wide by x^2– 61 feet long. How wide is the garden?
a. 3 feet c. 64 feet
b. 8 feet d. 131 feet

Question

The Shelby University rose garden is a rectangular shape with an area of 192 square feet.  The dimensions of the garden are x^2 feet wide by  x^2– 61 feet long.  How wide is the garden?
a. 3 feet     c. 64   feet 
b. 8 feet     d. 131 feet

pfenn1 · Answer

|dw:1337778562264:dw|The area of the rectangle equals the width times the length.$$A=(x^2)(x^2-61)=192$$Multiply this out and combine terms and solve for x.