SOLUTION: The width of a rectangle is 3cm less than its length. The rectangle has area of 40cm^2. What is the length of the rectangle? Please help Im not very good at word problems!!

Question 386970: The width of a rectangle is 3cm less than its length. The rectangle has area of 40cm^2. What is the length of the rectangle?
Please help Im not very good at word problems!!
Answer by stanbon(75887) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The width of a rectangle is 3cm less than its length. The rectangle has area of 40cm^2. What is the length of the rectangle?
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Let length be "x":
Then width is "x-3":
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Area = length * width
40 = x(x-3)
x^2-3x-40 = 0
(x-8)(x+5) = 0
Positive solution:
x = 8 cm (length)
x-3 = 5 cm (width)
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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