the length of a rectangle is 1 meter less than its width. If the area of the rectangle is 42 square meters. Find the dimensions of the rectangle

Question

the length of a rectangle is 1 meter less than its width. If the area of the rectangle is 42 square meters. Find the dimensions of the rectangle

Answer 1

L=w-1

LW = 42

substitute w-1 for L in 2nd equation

(w-1)w =42

expand

w^2 - w = 42

w^2 -w - 42 = 0

factor

(w-7)(w+6) =0

set w-7=0, solve for w

w =7 meters wide

L=42/7=7-1 = 6 meters Long

w=-6, L=-7 is another solution

if you're in the twilight zone

or if negative dimensions had some meaning, such as perhaps direction

Length is usually > width, so the problem has a problem, but acceptable

so you might rewrite that 1st equation as L=w+1

and conclude L=7 m, w=6 m, if you rewrite the problem