The length of a rectangular region is 5 feet more than the width of the region. If the area of the region is 84 feet square feet, what are the dimensions of the region

Question

Set up a quadratic equation and solve

Answer 1

w(5+w) = 84

w^2 +5w -84 = 0

(w-7)(w+12) = 0

w = 7 or -12

or use the quadratic formula x=-b/2a +/-(1/2a)sqr(b^2 -4x), a=1, b=5, c =-84

w = -5/2 +/-.5sqr(25+336)= -2.5 +/-.5sqr361

width = -2.5 +/-9.5 = -12 or 7 feet

Length = -7 or 12 feet

ignore negatives unless you're in the twilight zone, or the signs represent directions

(w,L) = (-12, -7) or (7, 12)

7x12 = 84 ft^2