Please help!!!

The area of a rectangular piece of land is 240 square meters. If the length of the land was 5 meters less and the width was 3 meters more, the shape of the land would be a square.

Part A: Write an equation to find the width (x) of the land. Show the steps of your work. (5 points)

Part B: What is the width of the land in meters? Show the steps of your work. (5 points)

Question

Please help!!!

The area of a rectangular piece of land is 240 square meters. If the length of the land was 5 meters less and the width was 3 meters more, the shape of the land would be a square.

Part A: Write an equation to find the width (x) of the land. Show the steps of your work. (5 points)

Part B: What is the width of the land in meters? Show the steps of your work. (5 points)

anonymous · Answer

@KeithAfasCalcLover please help me out with this one

calculusxy · Answer

I would suggest to find all the factors of 240 first.

anonymous · Answer

How do i do that? @calculusxy I am not very good at math..

calculusxy · Answer

What two numbers multiplied together will get 240? 
There are sets of them.

anonymous · Answer

20 and 12, 24 and 10, 16 and 15 and that's all i know

anonymous · Answer

@calculusxy

calculusxy · Answer

I am trying to figure out a strategy.

calculusxy · Answer

What I only thought of is that when 240/4 you get 60.

calculusxy · Answer

What two numbers will bring sixth after the length is cut down by 5 and the width is 3 more? I am still being reluctant on that idea.

campbell_st · Answer

if the land was square the dimensions would be side length x

|dw:1409360719657:dw|

so the rectangle has dimensions x - 5, width is x + 3

|dw:1409360788456:dw|

so the area equation of the rectangle is 

$$240 =(x - 5)(x + 3)$$

to get part A simplify the equation...

Part B

I'd find the 1st derivative and then solve it, that would be the value of x. 

when you know x, you can find the width