# Math Help - Fencing Question. Help me find the length & width

1. ## Fencing Question. Help me find the length & width

A farmer wants to set aside a rectangular plot of land to contain 100 square meters. If the width is 23 more than the length, find the dimensions of the plot.

length=_____

width=_____

2. ## Re: Fencing Question. Help me find the length & width

total land area = 100 sq.m
Let the length be x m
then the width will be x+23 m
Since the plot is rectangular , therefore area is given by length *width
=> x(x+23) = 100
=>x^2+23x = 100
=>x^2+23x-100 = 0

On solving this quadratic equation you will get x = -26.7 or x=3.7
rejecting the negative value (as length or width cannot be negative),

Length is 3.7 m
width is 3.7 +23 = 26.7 m which is approximately 100 m.

3. ## Re: Fencing Question. Help me find the length & width

Originally Posted by mrmaaza123
total land area = 100 sq.m
Let the length be x m
then the width will be x+23 m
Since the plot is rectangular , therefore area is given by length *width
=> x(x+23) = 100
=>x^2+23x = 100
=>x^2+23x-100 = 0

On solving this quadratic equation you will get x = -26.7 or x=3.7
rejecting the negative value (as length or width cannot be negative),

Length is 3.7 m
width is 3.7 +23 = 26.7 m which is approximately 100 m.

4. ## Re: Fencing Question. Help me find the length & width

Ok, so the calculation may have gone wrong. Did you manage to get the answer with this approach? By the way what's the answer.

5. ## Re: Fencing Question. Help me find the length & width

Originally Posted by spyder12
You were given approximations for the roots. Use the quadratic formula to get the exact value in question. The quadratic equation supplied by mrmaaza123 is correct.

6. ## Re: Fencing Question. Help me find the length & width

Originally Posted by mrmaaza123
Ok, so the calculation may have gone wrong. Did you manage to get the answer with this approach? By the way what's the answer.
This question was part of my online homework which was due today at 12pm--9 minutes ago--so now the question is closed and I can't access it anymore so I just left it blank. You're answer seemed correct maybe there's just a glitch on that question lol

7. ## Re: Fencing Question. Help me find the length & width

Originally Posted by MarkFL2
You were given approximations for the roots. Use the quadratic formula to get the exact value in question. The quadratic equation supplied by mrmaaza123 is correct.
yeah I'm sure that was the problem I probably needed the exact answer