SOLUTION: Hello I'm a college student in need of help with my elementary algebra problem. And it goes...The length of a rectangle is five times its width. When the length is decreased by 3m

Question 633315: Hello I'm a college student in need of help with my elementary algebra problem. And it goes...The length of a rectangle is five times its width. When the length is decreased by 3m and the width is increased by 2m, the area of the new rectangle is 60m^2. Find the original length and width.
I tried using the A=lw formula but it doesn't make any sense to me. I get stuck...I did 60=(5x-3)(x+2) and I came out 12.6 and that didn't match up. I also tried 60=5x(x) = 60=5x^2 = 5(x^2-12=0 and then I get completely stuck.
Answer by richwmiller(17219) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
(l-3)*(w+2)=60
l=5w
I changed your x to w for width
Your 60=(5w-3)(w+2) is correct but w=3 not 12.6
check
60=(15-3)*(3+2)
60=12*5
ok

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