Dimensions fo a rectangle

Question

A rectangle is drawn so that the width is 2 feet shorter than the length. The area of the rectangle is 3 square feet. Find the length of the rectangle.

Answer 1

A rectangle is drawn so that the width is 2 feet shorter than the length. The area of the rectangle is 3 square feet. Find the length of the rectangle.

Area = Length x Width

Make length (L) and width (L-2)

3 = L (L-2)

3 = L² - 2L

0 = L² - 2 L - 3

Find two numbers that add to -2 and multiply to -3.

0 = (L+1)(L-3)

Length needs to be positive.

L-3 = 0

Length = 3