Answer: length of rectangular parking lot = 24 yards
Width of rectangular parking lot = 20 yards.
Step-by-step explanation:
Let L represent the length of the rectangular parking lot.
Let W represent the width of the rectangular parking lot.
The rectangular parking lot has a length that is 4 yards greater than the width. It means that
W = L - 4
The formula for determining the area of a rectangle is expressed as
Area = LW
The area of the parking lot is 480 square yards.. It means that
LW = 480- - - - - - - - - - 1
Substituting W = L - 4 into equation 1, it becomes
L(L - 4) = 480
L² - 4L = 480
L² - 4L - 480 = 0
L² + 20L - 24L - 480 = 0
L(L + 20) - 24(L + 20) = 0
L - 24 = 0 or L + 20 = 0
L = 24 or L = - 20
Since the length cannot be negative, then L = 24
W = L - 4 = 24 - 4
W = 20
