The length of a parking lot is 8 yards more than the width If the area of the parking lot is 84 square yards, find the dimensions of the parking lot

Answer 1

It's given that L = W + 8 and Area = 84

A = L x W, so 84 = (W + 8)W. Multiplying out gives 84 = W² + 8W

Putting it into quadratic form so it can be factored: W² + 8W - 84 = 0

We need two factors whose product is -84 and whose sum is 8.

They are -6 and 14. So we have (W - 6)(W + 14) = 0 (You can use FOIL to check)

Setting each = 0, W = 6 or W = -14. As this is a real life dimension, discard the negative result.

W = 6 so L = 6 + 8 = 14 and total are is 6 x 14 = 84 sq yds.

Answer 2

w represents the width

w + 8 represents the length

84 = w(w + 8)

84 = w² + 8w

Can you solve for w and answer?