Question

The area of a rectangular cocktail table is x^2-18x+32 If the width is x-16 what is its length?

Answer 1

Answer: (x-2)

Step-by-step explanation:

This problem is a middle-term factorization, or factoring by splitting the middle term.

We have the equation

x^2 - 18x + 32

This equation represents the area, and area = length x width for all rectangles. We also know the width, x-16, which makes it easier for us. The length must also be in the same format.

x^2 - 18x + 32

= x^2 - 16x - 2x + 32

= x(x-16) - 2(x - 16)

= (x-16) (x-2) -------> we get this through taking (x-16) common

We could also pretend that the length is x - y, where y is the number we need to finish the equation.

x^2 - 18x + 32

= (x-16) (x-y)

= x^2 -16x - xy + 16y

-16 minus 2 is -18, which is our middle term.

Therefore, y = 2. This is also verified because is 16y = 32, the constant term, then through transposing we get y = 2.

Our answer is that the length is (x-2).