SOLUTION: Would someone show me step by step how to figure out this word problem? Thank you The length of a rectangle is 1cm more than 5 times its width. If the area of the rectangle is 79

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas -> SOLUTION: Would someone show me step by step how to figure out this word problem? Thank you The length of a rectangle is 1cm more than 5 times its width. If the area of the rectangle is 79       Log On


   



Question 88165: Would someone show me step by step how to figure out this word problem? Thank you
The length of a rectangle is 1cm more than 5 times its width. If the area of the rectangle is 79 cm^2, find the dimensions of the rectangle to the nearest thousandth.

Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The length of a rectangle is 1cm more than 5 times its width. If the area of the rectangle is 79 cm^2, find the dimensions of the rectangle to the nearest thousandth.
:
Let x = width of the rectangle
:
It says "the length of a rectangle is 1cm more than 5 times its width" Therefore:
(5x + 1) = the length
:
If the area of the rectangle is 79 cm^2,
L * W = 79
Which is:
x(5x+1) = 79; substituted x for width and (x+1) for length
:
5x^2 + x = 79; multiplied what was inside the brackets
:
5x^2 + x - 79; subtracted 79 from both sides, gives us a quadratic equation
:
This equation has to be solved by the quadratic formula a^2 + bx + c = y
in our equation: a = 5; b = 1; c =-79
x+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29+
:
x+=+%28-1+%2B-+sqrt%28+1%5E2+-+4%2A5%2A-79+%29%29%2F%282%2A5%29+
;
x+=+%28-1+%2B-+sqrt%28+1+-+%281580%29+%29%29%2F%2810%29+
:
x+=+%28-1+%2B-+sqrt%28+1++%2B+1580+%29%29%2F%2810%29+; minus a minus is a plus
:
x+=+%28-1+%2B-+sqrt%28+1581+%29%29%2F%2810%29+
:
WE are only interested in the positive solution here:
x+=+%28%28-1+%2B+39.762%29%29%2F%2810%29+; found the square root of 1581
:
x+=+%2838.762%29%2F%2810%29+
:
x = 3.876 is the width, Then the length = (5*3.876) + 1 = 20.38
:
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Check solutions:
3.876 * 20.38 = 78.99 ~ 79
:
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Was this enough steps to put on the right track here?