A park planner has sketched a rectangular park in the first quadrant of a coordinate
grid. Two sides of the park lie on the x- and y-axes. A trapezoidal flower bed will be
bounded by the line y = x + 7, the x-axis, and the vertical lines x = 1 and x = a,
where a > 1. The area A of the trapezoid is modeled by A =
za² + 7a
-
15
2.
Assume that lengths along the axes are measured in meters. For what value of a will
the trapezoid have an area of 23 square meters? Use the Quadratic Formula to find
the answer.
Remember to show your work (steps, equations, etc.) to find your answer to get
points for your answer.