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willowtree2
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Veritas Prep: The sides of rectangle X are each multiplied by a to for 27 Apr 2015, 09:34
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The sides of rectangle X are each multiplied by a to form rectangle Y and by b to form rectangle Z. a times the area of X is 10, and b times the area of X is 5. If the difference in area between Y and Z is 300, what is a - b

At the end of this problem we see:
LW(a + b)(a - b) = 300
which is converted to:
(aLW + bLW)(a - b) = 300
(10 + 5)(a - b) = 300 15(a - b) = 300 (a - b) = 20

My question is, why do we distribute the LW through the first set of parentheses and not the 2nd?



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Veritas Prep: The sides of rectangle X are each multiplied by a to for 27 Apr 2015, 09:36
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willowtree2
The sides of rectangle X are each multiplied by a to form rectangle Y and by b to form rectangle Z. a times the area of X is 10, and b times the area of X is 5. If the difference in area between Y and Z is 300, what is a - b

At the end of this problem we see:
LW(a + b)(a - b) = 300
which is converted to:
(aLW + bLW)(a - b) = 300
(10 + 5)(a - b) = 300 15(a - b) = 300 (a - b) = 20

My question is, why do we distribute the LW through the first set of parentheses and not the 2nd?
Show more

Please check here: the-sides-of-rectangle-x-are-each-multiplied-by-a-to-form-re-168079.html Hope it helps.

Also, please read carefully and follow: rules-for-posting-please-read-this-before-posting-133935.html Thank you.



Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Quantitative Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!