a picture fame has an area of 180 square inches. find the length and width if the width is 3 inches less than the length.

Question

 how do you show work to solve the problem and get the correct answer

 

Answer 1

Sydni, let's think about this one.

 

If l = the length, then the width is l - 3, right?

 

How do we find area? Length x width, right?

 

l(l - 3) = 180

l² - 3l = 180

l² - 3l - 180 = 0

(l - 15)(l + 12) = 0

 

l - 15 = 0

      l = 15

 

If the length is 15, the width is 12.

 

l + 12 = 0

       l = -12

 

Since our answer can't be negative, this is out.

 

Hope this helps!