226k views
1 vote
the length of a rectangle is 5 inches longer than it is wide. if the area is 36 square inches, what are the dimensions of the rectangle?

User Kunal Roy
by
7.8k points

1 Answer

6 votes

Answer:

length = 9 in and width = 4 in

Explanation:

let w represent width then length = w + 5

the area ( A) of a rectangle is calculated as

A = width × length

given A = 36 then

w(w + 5) = 36

w² + 5w = 36 ( subtract 36 from both sides )

w² + 5w - 36 = 0 ← in standard form

(w + 9)(w - 4) = 0 ← in factored form

equate each factor to zero and solve for w

w + 9 = 0 ⇒ w = - 9

w - 4 = 0 ⇒ w = 4

However w > 0 , then w = 4 and

length = w + 5 = 4 + 5 = 9

that is width = 4 inches and length = 9 inches

User Ubernator
by
8.9k points