SOLUTION: Word Problem Two rectangles have the same wifth. the length of one is 1 foot longer than the width. the length of the other is 2 foot longer than the width. the larger rectangle

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Question 835605: Word Problem
Two rectangles have the same wifth. the length of one is 1 foot longer than the width. the length of the other is 2 foot longer than the width. the larger rectangle has 5 more square ft than the smaller one. What is the width of the rectangles?
i have no clue what to do... :( how can you find it without knowing the area?

Answer by stanbon(75887)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Two rectangles have the same wifth. the length of one is 1 foot longer than the width. the length of the other is 2 foot longer than the width. the larger rectangle has 5 more square ft than the smaller one. What is the width of the rectangles?
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Smaller Rectangle:: width = w ft ; length = w-1 ft.
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Larger Rectangle:: width = w ft ; length = w+2 ft
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Equation:
Larger Area - Smaller Area = 5 sq. ft
w(w+2) - w(w-1) = 5
w^2+2w - w^2+w = 5
3w = 5
width = 5/3 = 1 2/3 ft
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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