Kenneth S. answered • 07/26/17
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Suppose the original square arrangement had x rows, columns of trees; total x2 trees.
Then (x+5)(x-3) = x2 + 25, i.e. the different arrangement has 25 more trees than the square arrangement.
Can you take it from here?
Kenneth S.
Sure, Erin: look at the equation that I wrote for you. Do you understand that it represents the problem?
Then to solve the problem, multiply out the left side (using FOIL).
You would then have x2 terms on each side of the equation--they cancel out.
The resulting equation is LINEAR, and you should be able to solve it for x.
Then, to answer the original question, the farmer planted x2 trees.
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07/27/17
Erin L.
07/27/17