Word Problems Involving

Concepts of Quadratic
Equation
Problem #1
After designing the first prototype of a whiteboard, which was a
square, the company decided to add 8 inches to the length and
reduce 13 inches to the width. If the area of the new whiteboard is
1296 square inches, what was the side length of the first prototype?
Problem #1 Solution
SOLUTION:

FIGURE Given: New board has added 8 inches in length and reduced 13 inches in width |
The area of the new board is 1296 square inches | The old board is a square
Asked: What is the side length of the old board?
Computation:
REASONING: If the old board is a square, then all sides are equal.
Let’s say the sides of the old board is s
NEW BOARD
The equation of the new board is where s is solved.

- 13 in
STEP 1: FORMING THE STANDARD
+ 8 in
 Problem #1 Solution
STEP 2: USING THE QUADRATIC EQUATION

FIGURE

or

NEW BOARD or

or
- 13 in
Since lengths will always be positive
+ 8 in values, we will reject -35 as a
possible answer, therefore
𝟐
− 𝟓 𝒔 − 𝟏𝟒𝟎𝟎 =𝟎
The length of the sides of the old
board is 40 inches.
Problem #2
The leg of a right triangle is 5 more than the other. If the hypotenuse
is the square root of 53, what is the length of the smaller leg?
Problem #2 Solution
SOLUTION:

FIGURE Given: The leg is 5 more than the other | The hypotenuse is
Asked: What is length of the smaller/shorter leg?
Computation:
REASONING: If the hypotenuse is given, and the legs are missing, but can be
identified by algebra, then the solution is the Pythagorean Theorem.
x+5 √ 53 Let’s say the length of the short side is x
The equation to solve the legs are where x is solved.

STEP 1: FORMING THE STANDARD

x
 Problem #2 Solution
STEP 2: USING THE QUADRATIC EQUATION

FIGURE

or
x+5 √ 53 or

or

Since lengths will always be positive

x values, we will reject -7 as a possible
answer, therefore
𝒙 𝟐 +𝟏𝟎 𝒙 − 𝟐𝟖=𝟎
The length of the shorter leg of a
right triangle is 2 centimeters.
Problem #3
The sum of a number and its square is 56. What is the number?
 Problem #3 Solution
SOLUTION:
Given: The number and the square of a number makes a product of 56
Asked: What is the number?
Computation:
REASONING: If the number is x, then the square is .
The equation to solve the number is.

STEP 1: FORMING THE STANDARD

 Problem #3 Solution
STEP 2: USING THE QUADRATIC EQUATION

or

or

or

A number and its square that has a sum of 56 is 7 and

-8.