Carcass wrote:
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In the figure shown above, line segment QR has length 12, and rectangle MPQT is a square. If the area of rectangular region MPRS is 540, what is the area of rectangular region TQRS?
(A) 144
(B) 216
(C) 324
(D) 360
(E) 396
Add the given information...
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Let x = the length of each side of square MPQT
GIVEN: The area of rectangular region MPRS is 540In other words:
(base)(height) = 540Substitute values to get: (x + 12)(x) = 540
Expand: x² + 12x = 540
Set equal to zero: x² + 12x - 540 = 0
Factor: (x + 30)(x - 18) = 0
So, EITHER x = -30 OR x = 18
Since the length cannot be negative, it must be the case that
x = 18 What is the area of rectangular region TQRS? Area = (base)(height) = (12)(18) = 216
Answer: B
Cheers,
Brent