Question

The rectangle below has an area of x2 - 16 square meters and a width of x + 4 meters.

What expression represents the length of the rectangle?
x +4
Length
x2 - 16
Length
meters

Answer 1

Length = x - 4 meters

Explanation:

Area of a rectangle = length × width

Area of a rectangle = x² - 16

width of the rectangle = x + 4 meters.

Length of the rectangle = ?

Recall:

Difference of two perfect square x² - 16 = (x + 4)(x - 4)

Area of a rectangle = length × width

(x + 4)(x - 4) = length * x + 4

Length = (x + 4)(x - 4) ÷ x + 4

Length = x - 4 meters