If h represents the height of the canvas in feet, and w represents the width of the canvas in feet, then calculate h + w.

Question

Emily bought a massive canvas for her special art project. The art store clerk told her that the canvas is 4 feet taller than it is wide, and that it’s a total of 45 square feet of painting surface. 

 

If h represents the height of the canvas in feet, and wrepresents the width of the canvas in feet, then calculate h + w.

Answer 1

You need to find both h and w.

h=w+4 and hw=45

Substitution gives you this quadratic: w² + 4w - 45 = 0.

This factors easily. If you can't factor, then use the quadratic formula.