Question

The length of a rectangle is 8 inches longer than the width. If the area is 295 square inches, find the

rectangles dimensions. Round your answers to the nearest tenth of an inch.
Answer: The dimensions are

Answer 1

L=21.6in and w=13.6

Explanation:

If the length is 8 inches longer than its width, we can write the width as "w" and the length as the width w+ 8

Area is (width)(Length) = (width)(width+8)

W

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| | L = w+8

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A = (w+8)(w)

A = w2 + 8w = 295.

(Problem states that area is 295 sq in)

Need to solve this quadratic equation

w2 +8y - 295 = 0

Factor:

(w - 13.64) (w + 21.64) = 0

So

w - 13.64 = 0. or. w + 21.64= 0

Solve these and get

w = 13.64. or. w = -21.64

Only one that makes sense in real life is the poitive one.

So the dimensions are

Width = 13.64 inches

Length = 21.64 inches