document.write( "Question 174027: a rectangle is three times as long as it is wide. if its length and width are both decreased by 2cm, its area is decreased by 36cm squared. find its original dimensions. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #128931 by solver91311(24713)\"\" \"About 
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The width is \"w\" so the length is \"3w\". The area of the original rectangle is then \"3w%5E2\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The smaller rectangle measures \"w-2\" by \"3w-2\", and the new area is \"3w%5E2-8w-4\", but this new area is \"36cm%5E2\" smaller than the original, so\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"3w%5E2-8w-4=3w%5E2-36\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Collect terms, solve for \"w\" and you have the original width.
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