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100 points for 49 worth of Veritas practice GMATs FREE VERITAS PRACTICE GMAT EXAMS Earn 10 Points Per Post Earn 10 Points Per Thanks Earn 10 Points Per Upvote ## A square playground has the same area as a rectangular tagged by: AAPL ##### This topic has 2 expert replies and 1 member reply ### Top Member ## A square playground has the same area as a rectangular ## Timer 00:00 ## Your Answer A B C D E ## Global Stats Difficult GMAT Paper Tests A square playground has the same area as a rectangular playground that is 30 meters longer but 20 meters narrower. What is the length, in meters, of a side of the square playground? $$A.\ 10\sqrt{5}$$ $$B.\ 10\sqrt{6}$$ $$C.\ 25$$ $$D.\ 50$$ $$E.\ 60$$ OA E ### GMAT/MBA Expert GMAT Instructor Joined 25 May 2010 Posted: 15344 messages Followed by: 1864 members Upvotes: 13060 GMAT Score: 790 AAPL wrote: GMAT Paper Tests A square playground has the same area as a rectangular playground that is 30 meters longer but 20 meters narrower. What is the length, in meters, of a side of the square playground? $$A.\ 10\sqrt{5}$$ $$B.\ 10\sqrt{6}$$ $$C.\ 25$$ $$D.\ 50$$ $$E.\ 60$$ We can PLUG IN THE ANSWERS, which represent a side of the square. Since the dimension of the rectangular playground are INTEGER values, the correct answer is probably also an integer. When the correct answer is plugged in, the square and the rectangle will have the same area. D: 50, implying that the area of the square = 50Â² = 2500 Since the rectangular playground is 30 meters longer but 20 meters narrower, the area of the playground = (50+30)(50-20) = 80*30 = 2400. The areas are not equal. Eliminate D. E: 80, implying that the area of the square = 60Â² = 3600 Since the rectangular playground is 30 meters longer but 20 meters narrower, the area of the playground = (60+30)(60-20) = 90*40 = 3600. Success! The areas are equal. The correct answer is E. Algebra: Let s = a side of the square, implying that the area of the square = sÂ². Since the rectangular playground is 30 meters longer but 20 meters narrower, the area of the playground = (s+30)(s-20) = sÂ² + 10s - 600. Since the two areas are equal, we get: sÂ² = sÂ² + 10s - 600 0 = 10s - 600 600 = 10s 60 = s. _________________ Mitch Hunt Private Tutor for the GMAT and GRE GMATGuruNY@gmail.com If you find one of my posts helpful, please take a moment to click on the "UPVOTE" icon. Available for tutoring in NYC and long-distance. For more information, please email me at GMATGuruNY@gmail.com. Student Review #1 Student Review #2 Student Review #3 Free GMAT Practice Test How can you improve your test score if you don't know your baseline score? Take a free online practice exam. Get started on achieving your dream score today! Sign up now. ### Top Member Legendary Member Joined 29 Oct 2017 Posted: 958 messages Followed by: 4 members Let the side of the square be 'a' and that of rectangle be l (length) and b (breadth) \begin{align*} l&=a+30 \\ b&=a-20 \\ a^2&=(a+30)(a-20) \\ a^2&=a^2+10a-600a \\ a&=60\end{align*} Regards! ### GMAT/MBA Expert GMAT Instructor Joined 25 Apr 2015 Posted: 2791 messages Followed by: 18 members Upvotes: 43 AAPL wrote: GMAT Paper Tests A square playground has the same area as a rectangular playground that is 30 meters longer but 20 meters narrower. What is the length, in meters, of a side of the square playground? $$A.\ 10\sqrt{5}$$ $$B.\ 10\sqrt{6}$$ $$C.\ 25$$ $$D.\ 50$$ $$E.\ 60$$ OA E We can create the equation: s^2 = (s + 30)(s - 20) s^2 = s^2 + 10s - 600 600 = 10s 60 = s Answer: E _________________ Scott Woodbury-Stewart Founder and CEO scott@targettestprep.com See why Target Test Prep is rated 5 out of 5 stars on BEAT the GMAT. Read our reviews • Magoosh Study with Magoosh GMAT prep Available with Beat the GMAT members only code • FREE GMAT Exam Know how you'd score today for0

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