MHB Build an expression for the remaining area & show that....

AI Thread Summary
The problem involves calculating the area of a rectangular glass sheet after removing an isosceles triangle. The remaining area of the sheet is given as 5 cm², leading to the equation x(x+2) = 10 when equating the area of the rectangle minus the triangle. After simplifying, the expression becomes x² + 2x - 10 = 0. The calculations confirm that the expression for the remaining area is correct. The discussion focuses on deriving the quadratic equation from the area calculations.
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From the rectangular glass sheet ABCD the isosceles triangular part ADE is cut away (See figure)

The length of CE is 1m.

View attachment 5978

Problem

i. Take the length of DE as x meters, write an expression in terms of x , for the area of the remaining part of the sheet.

The area of the remaining part ABCE is $5cm^2$

ii.Show that $x^2+2x-10=0$ Workings:

Area of the remaining part = area of the rectangle - area of the isosceles triangle = $ [(x+1) x ]- \frac{1}{2} x^2 = x^2 + x- \frac{1}{2} x^2 $

Where do I need help

I think my expression for the remaining area is correct but how can i show that it is
$x^2+2x-10=0$ when the area of the remaining part is $5cm^2$
 

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Let's first treat $ABCE$ as a trapezoid, hence:

$$A=\frac{h}{2}(B+b)=\frac{x}{2}((x+1)+1)=\frac{x}{2}(x+2)$$

Now, let's treat is as a rectangle less the right isosceles triangle:

$$A=x(x+1)-\frac{1}{2}x^2=\frac{x}{2}(2x+2-x)=\frac{x}{2}(x+2)$$

Now, if we equate this area to 5 (assuming all measures are in cm), we obtain:

$$\frac{x}{2}(x+2)=5$$

Multiply through by 2:

$$x(x+2)=10$$

Distribute on the left:

$$x^2+2x=10$$

Subtract through by 10:

$$x^2+2x-10=0$$
 
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