Question

The width of a rectangle is the length minus 5 units. The area of the rectangle is 24

units. What is the length, in units, of the rectangle?

Answer 1

L = 8

w = 3

Explanation:

Givens

w = L - 5

L = x

Area = 24

Formula

Area = L * w

Solution

Area = (x) * (x - 5)

24 = x * (x - 5) Remove the brackets

24 = x^2 - 5x Subtract 24 from both sides

0 = x^2 - 5x - 24 This will factor

0 = (x - 8)(x + 3)

x + 3 is an extraneous root. You cannot have a length of -3 units no matter what the units are.

x - 8 = 0

x = 8

Answer

The length = 8

The width is = 8 - 5 = 3