Asked by Anonymous

A rectangular garden is 20 ft longer than it is wide. Its area is 8000 ft{}^2. What are its dimensions?

Let "w" equal the width
w+20=8000
w^2+20=8000

not sure how to continue
Answered by PsyDAG
If w = width, then length = w + 20

w(w+20) = 8000

Solve for w, then length.
Answered by Steve
you have the right idea, but you should have said

w(w+20) = 8000
w^2+20w = 8000
w^2+20w-8000 = 0
(w-80)(w+100) = 0
...
Answered by Anonymous
How do I isolate w ?
Answered by Anonymous
so w=80 and w=-100 ?
Answered by Steve
If two numbers multiply to produce a product of zero, then one of them <b>must</b> be zero.

So, if (w-80)(w+100)=0, then either

w-80 = 0
w=80

or

w+100 = 0
w = -100

Now pick the value that makes sense for this problem. Then check your conclusion by plugging in the value and seeing whether it produces a rectangle of the correct area.
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