Question

A theater can seat 273 people. The number of rows is 8 less than the number of seats in each row. How many rows of seats are there?

Answer 1

r * s = 273
r = s - 8.....s = r + 8

r(r + 8) = 273
r^2 + 8r = 273
r^2 + 8r - 273 = 0
(r - 13)(r + 21) = 0

r - 13 = 0
r = 13

r + 21 = 0
r = -21.....extraneous solution...not ur answer

r = 13
s = r + 8 = 13 + 8 = 21

so there are 13 rows.....each row containing 21 seats