The length of a rectangle is 1 foot less than twice the width. The area is 55 square feet. Find the dimensions of the rectangle.

Answer 1

Dimensions of rectangle are length (l) x width (w).

area of rectangle = l * w

In problem, length (l) = 2 * width (w) - 1

Substituting above expression for length in area equation:

(2*w - 1) * w = 55

2w^2 - w = 55

2w^2 - w - 55 = 0

2w^2 + 10w - 11w - 55 = 0

2w (w+5) -11(w+5) = 0

(2w - 11)(w+5) = 0

2w - 11 = 0 or w+5 = 0

since w cannot be less than zero, we just find the solution to the first equation:

2w - 11 = 0

w = 5.5

l = 2w - 1= 11 - 1 = 10

rectangle is 10 by 5.5