Question

The area of a rectangular piece of land is 260 square meters. If the length of the land was 5 meters less and the width was 2 meters more, the shape of the land would be square.

Part A: write an equation to find the width (x) of the land would be a square. show the steps of your work.

Part B: what is the width of the land in meters? show the steps of your work.

Answer 1

@jdoe0001

Answer 2

@iambatman

Answer 3

@Luigi0210

Answer 4

@Hero

Answer 5

@Compassionate

Answer 6

@robtobey

Answer 7

The rectangular area:
xy = 260

The square area:
(x + 2)(y - 5) = 260

Now, the thing about this is, if the area is square, then x = y, so
(x + 2)(x - 5) = 260
x^2 - 3x - 10 = 260
x^2 - 3x - 270 = 0
(x - 15)(x + 18) = 0

x - 15 = 0
x + 18 = 0

Remember, only the positive result matters.

Answer 8

@Hero
so the answer for part A would be this equation : (x+2)(y-5)=260 ?

Answer 9

The useful equation would be (x + 2)(x - 5) = 260, since we can use it to solve for x.

Answer 10

@hero
thanks, but how would I find the width of the land in meters?

Answer 11

Solve

x - 15 = 0

Answer 12

x=15

Answer 13

@Hero

Answer 14

thanks a lot, i fully understand how it's done now! :)

Answer 15

@MarthaSpeaks, very well then :)

Answer 16

So width is 15 for b?