In a garden, saplings have been planted in rows. The number of rows is 5 more than the number of saplings in each row. If a total of 336 saplings have been planted, how many saplings were planted in each row?

Q.In a garden, saplings have been planted in rows. The number of rows is 5 more than the number of saplings in each row. If a total of 336 saplings have been planted, how many saplings were planted in each row?

Let the number of saplings planted in each row be \(x\). ∴ The number of rows = \(x + 5\) ∴ Total number of saplings = \(x(x + 5)\) According to the question: \[ x(x + 5) = 336 \Rightarrow x^2 + 5x - 336 = 0 \Rightarrow x^2 + 21x - 16x - 336 = 0 \Rightarrow x(x + 21) - 16(x + 21) = 0 \Rightarrow (x + 21)(x - 16) = 0 \] So either: \[ x + 21 = 0 \Rightarrow x = -21 \quad \text{(Not acceptable as it's negative)} \text{or} \quad x - 16 = 0 \Rightarrow x = 16 \] ∴ 16 saplings were planted in each row.