The length of a rectangular garden is 4 units more than its breadth, and its area is 360 square units. What is the breadth of the garden?

Correct answer: 18

Let the breadth be \(x\) units. Then the length is \(x+4\) units, so the area gives \(x(x+4)=360\). Thus, \(x^2+4x-360=0\), which factors as \((x-18)(x+20)=0\). Therefore, \(x=18\) or \(x=-20\). Since a length cannot be negative, the breadth is 18 units. Exam tip: Always reject a negative root when solving a geometrical measurement problem.