A rectangle is 5 inches longer than it is wide. Find the dimensions of the rectangle if its area is 266 sq-inches.

Question

what is the length

what is the width

Answer 1

L=5+W

LW = 266

this method is not recommended, or standard, but it works

sqr266 = 16.3 1= sides if it were a square, but there's 5 difference in L and W, so move half of 5 each way to get:

W = about 16.31 - 5/2= 13.81

L = about 16.31+ 5/2 = 18.81

round off to:

14 x 19 = 266

Length = 19 inches

Width = 14 inches

Usual method is

substitution

(5+W)W = 266

W^2 + 5W - 266 = 0

(W+19(W-14) = 0

W = 14

L=14+5= 19

Answer 2

Draw and label a diagram!

w represents the width

w + 5 represents the length

w(w + 5) = 266

Can you solve for w and answer?