document.write( "Question 239043: ok i really need help on this problem. i am in honors algebra 2 and i dont know what to do. Please help me solve the word problem: A rectangle is 3 times as long as it is wide. If the length and the width are both decreased by 4 cm, the resulting rectangle has area 28cm squared. Find the dimensions of the original rectangle. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #175613 by Theo(13342)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! A rectangle is 3 times as long as it is wide. If the length and the width are both decreased by 4 cm, the resulting rectangle has area 28cm squared. Find the dimensions of the original rectangle.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "L = 3W\r \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(L-4) * (W-4) = 28\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Replace L with 3W to get:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(3W-4) * (W-4) = 28\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "remove parentheses by multiplying out the factors to get:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "3W^2 - 16W + 16 = 28\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "subtract 28 from both sides to get:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "3W^2 - 16W - 12 = 0\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "this factors out to:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(3W+2) * (W-6) = 0\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "This makes 3W = -2 or W = 6\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "W can't be negative so W = 6 is the only valid answer.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "if W = 6, then L = 3W makes L = 18\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "You have L = 18 and W = 6\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "substitute in the original equation to get:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(L-4) * (W-4) = 28 becomes:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(18-4) * (6-4) = 28 which becomes:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "14 * 2 = 28 which becomes:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "28 = 28 which is true so the values for L and W must be good.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Your answers are:\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "L = 18 and W = 6\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |