A rectangular flower bed is five feet longer than it is wide. its area is eighty-four square feet.

What are its dimensions?

Show all work using an equation

Lets say w is the width of the flower bed. We can make an equation to find the area.

The length of the of the flower bed is (w+5) and the width is w.

To find the area we need to multiply the length (w+5) by the width (w) and set it equal to 84,

(w+5) (w) = 84

w^2 + 5w=84

Using the quadratic equation you get the solutions of 7 and - 12. Since 7 is positive it is our width. Our length is 7+5 or 12.