A magician's stage has a trap door.

a. The total area of the stage can be represented by x^2++27x+176. Write an expression for the width of the stage.
b. The area of the trap door is 12 suare feet. Find the value of x.
c. What fraction of the area of the stage is the area of the trap door?

Trap door: x ft by (x-1) ft
Stage: (x+16) ft

3 answers

x^2+27x+176 = (x+16)(x+11)

x(x-1)=12
x^2-x-12=0
(x-4)(x+3)=0

Assuming the same value of x, then
trap/stage = 12/(x^2+27x+176)

I don't get the concept

Nuts