Question

The length of a table is 16 inches more than its width. If the area of the table is 720 square inches, of what is it’s length?

Answer 1

Let the width of the table be = x inches

As the length of a table is 16 inches more than its width, so length = x+16

Area of the rectangular table = 720 square inches

Area of rectangle = $length*width$

$720=x(x+16)$

$720=x^{2}+16x$

$x^{2}+16x-720=0$

$x^{2}+36x-20x-720=0$

$x(x+36)-20(x+36)=0$

$(x-20)(x+36)=0$

$x=20$ and $x=-36$

Neglect the negative value as length and width cannot be negative

So, width = 20 inches

Length = x+16 = 20+16 = 36 inches

Hence, length is 36 inches and width is 20 inches.