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12. The length of a rectangle is 6 meters longer than the width. If the total area of the rectangle is 16m², find the dimensions of the rectangle.

User AB Bolim
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Answer: Let's say that the width of the rectangle is x meters. Then, according to the problem, the length of the rectangle is 6 meters longer than the width, which means that the length is (x + 6) meters.

The formula for the area of a rectangle is:

Area = Length x Width

We are given that the total area of the rectangle is 16m². Substituting the expressions for length and width, we get:

(x + 6) x = 16

Expanding the product and rearranging, we get a quadratic equation:

x² + 6x - 16 = 0

We can solve this equation by factoring or by using the quadratic formula. Factoring, we get:

(x + 8) (x - 2) = 0

This equation is satisfied when either x + 8 = 0 or x - 2 = 0. Therefore, the possible values for the width are x = -8 or x = 2. However, since the width of a rectangle cannot be negative, we reject the solution x = -8.

Therefore, the width of the rectangle is x = 2 meters. The length is 6 meters longer than the width, so the length is (2 + 6) = 8 meters.

Therefore, the dimensions of the rectangle are 2 meters by 8 meters.

Explanation:

User Morfinismo
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