Answer:
26 rows
Step-by-step explanation:
this is like a rectangle length×width situation.
seats per row = s
number of rows = r
s × r = 884
s = r + 8
so, we can use e.g. the second equation in the first :
(r + 8) × r = 884
r² + 8r = 884
r² + 8r - 884 = 0
the general solution to such a quadratic equation is
x = (-b ± sqrt(b² - 4ac))/(2a)
in our case
x = r
a = 1
b = 8
c = -884
r = (-8 ± sqrt(8² - 4×1×-884))/(2×1) =
= (-8 ± sqrt(64 + 3536))/2 = (-8 ± sqrt(3600))/2 =
= (-8 ± 60)/2 = -4 ± 30
r1 = -4 + 30 = 26
r2 = -4 - 30 = -34
a negative number did not make any sense for the number of rows, so r = 26 is our answer.
