SOLUTION: A rectangle has a diagonal that measures 10 centimeters and lengh that is 2 centimeters longer than the width. What is the width of the rectangle in centimeters?

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Question 192307: A rectangle has a diagonal that measures 10 centimeters and lengh that is 2 centimeters longer than the width. What is the width of the rectangle in centimeters?
Answer by orca(409) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Note that the width, length and the diagonal form a right triangle, the diagonal is the hypotenuse.
Let the width be x, then the length is x + 2.
Now use the pythagorean theorem to set up an equation:
x%5E2%2B%28x%2B2%29%5E2+=+10%5E2
Solving the equation, we have
x%5E2%2Bx%5E2%2B4x%2B4=100
2x%5E2%2B4x-96=0
x%5E2%2B2x-48=0
%28x-6%29%28x%2B8%29=0
So
x=6, or x=-8(reject this negative root)
So the width is 6cm, and the length is x+2=8 cm.