Let the width of the table be = x inches
As the length of a table is 16 inches more than its width, so length = x+16
Area of the rectangular table = 720 square inches
Area of rectangle = [tex]length*width[/tex]
[tex]720=x(x+16)[/tex]
[tex]720=x^{2}+16x[/tex]
[tex]x^{2}+16x-720=0[/tex]
[tex]x^{2}+36x-20x-720=0[/tex]
[tex]x(x+36)-20(x+36)=0[/tex]
[tex](x-20)(x+36)=0[/tex]
[tex]x=20[/tex] and [tex]x=-36[/tex]
Neglect the negative value as length and width cannot be negative
So, width = 20 inches
Length = x+16 = 20+16 = 36 inches
Hence, length is 36 inches and width is 20 inches.
