SOLUTION: The length of a rectangle is 5 centimeters less than two times its width. If the area is 42 square centimeters, what is the length and width? thank you!!

Question 604674: The length of a rectangle is 5 centimeters less than two times its width. If the area is
42 square centimeters, what is the length and width? thank you!!
Answer by alicealc(293) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
length= L
width = W

L = 2W - 5
Area = length * width
42 = (2W - 5)*W

0 = (2W + 7)*(W - 6)
2W + 7 = 0 or W - 6 = 0
2W = -7 or W = 6
W = -7/2 or W = 6
because the width can't be a negative number, we choose W = 6
L = 2W - 5 = 2 * 6 - 5 = 12 - 5 = 7

so the length of the rectangle is 7 centimeters and the width is 6 centimeters

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