A rectangle with an area of 180 square feet has a length and width in a ratio of 5:4. What are the length and width?

Answer 1

Since the length and width are in the ratio 5 to 4, we can say that the length is 5x and the width is 4x, for some positive number x.

Area = (length)(width) = (5x)(4x) = 20x² = 180. So, x = 3.

Thus, the length is 15 ft and the width is 12 ft.

Answer 2

Hi,

length and width in a ratio of 5:4

it means length over width is 5/4

if length = l and width is w you have l/w = 5/4 ===> l = 5/4 w #1

on the other hand you have area that you know is AREA = l * w #2

now replace area and l to the #2 equation

180 = 5/4 w * w after simplify by times 4/5 you will have 720/5 = w^2 ===> 144 = w^2 ===> 12 = w

now replace w = 12 to the #1 and find l = 15

I hope it is useful,

Minoo