The area of a rectangular carpet is 28 square feet. The length is three feet more the then width. Find the length and width of the carpet

Answer 1

Area of a rectangle is L x W

L = W + 3

W = L - 3

Area is 28

So you need factors that multiply to 28 and subtract to give 3

The factors of 28 include 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 28

One could also set this up as a quadratic equation

28 = W(W + 3)

28 = W² + 3W

0 = W² + 3W - 28

(W + 7)(W - 4)

W = 4 since it cannot be -7

But since we know L = W + 3, L = 4 + 3 =7

And 7 X 4 = 28