Question

The length of a rectangular garden is 6 feet less than 3 times its width. The area is 360 square feet. What is the length of the garden?

Answer 1

Width = w
Length = 3w - 6
Area = 360

Equation Area = wl
w (3w-6) = 360
3w^2- 6w = 360
3w^2 - 6w - 360 = 0
3 (w^2 - 2w - 120)=0
3(w + 10)(w - 12) = 0
w = -10 & 12
l = 3w-6 = 3 (-10)-6= -30 - 6= -36
l = 3w-6 = 3(12) - 6 = 36-6 = 30

Answer: -10 and 12. Yet, since this is a measurement, it must be positive so 12 ft