College Algebra Help

Question

The length of a flag is 1.5 times as great as its width. If the flag's area is given by the expression (x+140), find the flag's width

Answer 1

Hello, thank you for taking the time to post your question!

The key on this type of question is finding a way to relate the variables to one another algebraically. On this one we have

L = 1.5W

A = L x W = (x + 140)

I would plug the first equation into the second equation to get

A = 1.5W x W = 1.5W^2 = (x + 140)

So the equation that we’re trying to solve for the value of “W” is

W^2 = (x + 140)/1.5

If you take the square root of both sides that becomes

W = sqrt((x + 140) / 1.5)

I hope that helps you get moving in a better direction on this type of question! Feel free to reach out if you have any additional questions beyond that :)

Answer 2

L=1.5W

Area = LW = x+140

= (1.5W)W = x +140 = 1.5W^2

1.5W^2 = x+ 14 divide by 1.5

W^2 = (x+14)/1.5 take the square root

W = sqr[(x+14)/1.5] = flag's width

L = 1.5sqr[x+14)/1.5] = flag's length