SOLUTION: This is a factoring word problem when ou have to use the principle of zero. The question is "A box 1 foot tall has a rectangular base with a length that is 1 foot more than the wid

Question 120196: This is a factoring word problem when ou have to use the principle of zero. The question is "A box 1 foot tall has a rectangular base with a length that is 1 foot more than the width. What are the dimensions of the base if the volume of the box is 6 feet^3?" I don't understand this problem. Could you please help me?
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let W=width, L=length

Since the "length that is 1 foot more than the width" this means

Now since the volume of any box is

we can plug in the given info

Plug in , , and

Multiply and rearrange

Multiply and rearrange

Subtract 6 from both sides

Factor the right side (note: if you need help with factoring, check out this solver)

Now set each factor equal to zero:
or

or Now solve for w in each case

So our answer is
or

However, since a negative length doesn't make sense, our only solution is

So the width is 2 feet and the length is feet

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