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Question

The length of a rectangle is 7in longer than it is wide. If the area is 228 square inches, what are the dimensions of the rectangle?

Answer 1

Hello, Shannon.

Okay, so let's call the width w.

So ,

w = width

l(length) = w + 7

Now the area of a rectangle is length x width and it equals 228 sq in.

l x w = 228

Since we know that l = w + 7:

(w + 7) x w = 228

w² + 7w = 228

w² + 7w - 228 = 0

(w - 12)(w + 19) = 0

Therefore, w = 12, -19

Since you can't have a negative length, then w = 12 in

Substituting l = w + 7 = 12 + 7 = 19

Therefore,

length = 12 in

width = 19 in