SOLUTION: The area of a rectangle is 18 square meters. When the length is increased by 2 meters and the width by 3 meters the area becames 48 square meters. Find the dimensions of the smalle

Question 84840This question is from textbook Elementry and Entermeditate Algebra
: The area of a rectangle is 18 square meters. When the length is increased by 2 meters and the width by 3 meters the area becames 48 square meters. Find the dimensions of the smaller triangle.
Just by looking at this problem I can tell the answer is 6 meters and 3 meters. But I can not figure out how to set up the forula.
I tried (m+2)(m+3)=48
I then used FOIL then used the quadratic formula but it didn't work.
Can anybody help
Thanks.This question is from textbook Elementry and Entermeditate Algebra

Answer by josmiceli(9669) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
w = width
l = length

divide both sides by l

multiply both sides by l

divide both sides by 3

Two values of l make this equation true, l = 2 and l = 6
Going back to , if
l = 2
w = 9
Then going back to
This is true, so those values work
-----------------------

If l = 6, then
w = 3

This is true also, so both
l = 2, w = 9
and
l = 6
w = 3
are both solutions. Take your pick