The area of a rectangle is 52 ft2 , and the length of the rectangle is 5 ft less than twice the width. Find the dimensions of the rectangle.

Question

I cant fugue out this word problem

Answer 1

Let the width of the rectangle = x

 

The length of the rectangle = 2x - 5

 

We know area of a rectangle = length x width, so we have:

 

52 = (2x - 5)(x)

 

52 = 2x² - 5x

 

2x² - 5x - 52 = 0

 

(2x - 13)(x + 4) = 0

 

2x - 13 = 0

 

2x = 13

 

x = 13/2 = 6.5

 

We can disregard the other factor because a rectangle's dimensions cannot be negative. 

 

Therefore, the width = 6.5 ft and the length = 2x - 5 = 2 * 6.5 - 5 = 13 - 5 = 8 ft