A design calls for a rectangular garden with an area of 180 square feet. If the length is to be 3 feet more than the width, set up an equation and solve that equation to find the dimensions of the garden.

Question

I drew a sketch and labeled the width "w" and the length "w+3"

my equation was:

w(w+3)=180

simplified and split the middle term:

w^2+15w-12w-180=0

should I group again?
thanks, meloney

Answer 1

Hey, Mel!

Well, w^2 + 15w - 12w - 180 = 0.

Turns into:

w^2 + 3w - 180 = 0.

Then, you can either split the middle form (take 2) or you can do the other thing (don't know how to explain it... but you know what I mean by take 1, right?)

If you need any more help, tell me. :-)

Answer 2

my equation is splitting the middle term emmalene. sigh.

Answer 3

w^2 + 15w - 12w - 180 = 0

pull out the GCF of each pair.
w(w + 15) - 12(w + 15) = 0

then pull out the common factor (w + 15) from eatch term.
(w + 15)(w - 12) = 0

see if you can take it from there.

Answer 4

thanks so much!!!