Question

Determining the Equation for a Real-World Scenario
The diagram below represents the measurements of Jennie’s yard. The yard’s width is x feet shorter than its length. If the area of the yard is 540 square feet, how many feet shorter than the length is the width?

A yard with a length of 30 feet and a width of (30 minus x) feet.

Which equation represents the scenario?
30 + (30 – x) = 540
540 – 30 = 30 – x
30(30 – x) = 540
540 – (30 – x) = 30

Answer 1

Area = length × width. Length = 30 and width = 30 − x, so
30(30 − x) = 540.

Solving: 900 − 30x = 540 → 30x = 360 → x = 12. The width is 12 feet shorter.