A rectangular vegetable garden will have a width that is 2 feet less than the length, and an area of 48 square feet. If x represents the length, then the length can be found by solving the equation: x (x-2) = 48

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Mathematics

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7 September, 14:07

A rectangular vegetable garden will have a width that is 2 feet less than the length, and an area of 48 square feet. If x represents the length, then the length can be found by solving the equation: x (x-2) = 48

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Macdonald · Answer 1

So x²-2x=48. Add 1 to each side: x²-2x+1=49, so (x-1) ²=49 and x-1=±7 so x=8 or - 6.

Another way to solve: x²-2x-48=0 = (x+6) (x-8) so x=8 or - 6.

However, the length must be positive so the length is 8 and the width is 6.