A theater can seat 273 people. The number of rows is 8 less than the number of seats in each row. How many rows of seats are there?

R * s = 273

r = s - 8 ... s = r + 8

r (r + 8) = 273

r^2 + 8r = 273

r^2 + 8r - 273 = 0

(r - 13) (r + 21) = 0

r - 13 = 0

r = 13

r + 21 = 0

r = - 21 ... extraneous solution ... not ur answer

r = 13

s = r + 8 = 13 + 8 = 21

so there are 13 rows ... each row containing 21 seats