The length of a rectangle is 6 inches longer than it is wide. If the area is 55 square inches, what are the dimensions of the rectangle?

Question

i need the width and length

Answer 1

Let L = length and W = width  

 

Length is 6 inches longer than width  ==>  L = W + 6  

 

Area = L*W = 55  

 

Substitute the value for L into the area equation and solve for W  

 

(W + 6)*W = 55

W² + 6W = 55

W² + 6W - 55 = 0

(W + 11)*(W - 5) = 0  

 

W = -11  or  W = 5  

 

The width cannot be negative so discard W = -11  

 

So the width is 5 inches and the length is 5 + 6 = 11 inches  

 

Check:  5*11 = 55