Question

the length of a rectangle is 3 cm less than the width. the area is 54cm^2. what is the length and the width of the rectangle?

Answer 1

The length of the rectangle is 6cm while the width is 9cm

Explanation:

Here, we are interested in calculating the length and width of the rectangle.

Let the length of the rectangle be x cm

We are told that the length is 3 cm

less than the width, this means that the width is (x + 3) cm

The area of the rectangle is 54cm^2

Mathematically;

Area of rectangle = L * B

Thus;

x(x + 3) = 54

x^2 + 3x = 54

x^2 + 3x -54 = 0

x^2 + 9x -6x -54 = 0

x(x + 9 ) -6(x + 9) = 0

(x -6)(x + 9) = 0

x -6 = 0 or x+ 9 = 0

x = 6 or -9

Since length cannot be negative we choose x = 6cm

But width = x + 3 = 6 + 3 = 9cm