document.write( "Question 299944: I need help with this question, cant seem to get the right answer.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "A rectangle with an area of 80cm2 has a width that is three more than one half its length. What is the width of the rectangle
\n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #215350 by wise1(2)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
before u go through all this, pls read the last 4 lines
\n" ); document.write( "area=80cm2,
\n" ); document.write( "to make things easier, lets call length 'b' and width 'w'
\n" ); document.write( "\"w=%28b%2F2%29%2B3\"
\n" ); document.write( "area=b*w=80
\n" ); document.write( "substituting 'w' with \"%28b%2F2%29%2B3\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"b=80\"
\n" ); document.write( "\"b%5E2%2F2+%2B3b=80\"
\n" ); document.write( "multiply through by 2 to get rid of the fraction
\n" ); document.write( "\"b%5E2%2B6b=160\"
\n" ); document.write( "now i will equate everything to zero
\n" ); document.write( "\"b%5E2%2B6b-160=0\" ......(i)
\n" ); document.write( "multiply the first figure(the one with the square to the number without any letter(dont forget the signs)in this case....
\n" ); document.write( "\"b%5E2+%2A+-160+=-160b%5E2\"
\n" ); document.write( "now this is the tricky part. from (i) u need to find 2 numbers whose multiple gives you \"-160b%5E2\" and whose sum gives you 6b.
\n" ); document.write( "in this case, its 16b and -10b
\n" ); document.write( "now all we have to do is replace 6b with this sum, after all, its all the same
\n" ); document.write( " ****dont give up, this only looks bulky cos im tryin to explain clearly***
\n" ); document.write( "\"b%5E2%2B16b-10b-160=0\"
\n" ); document.write( "watch closely. this is how to contract. it doesn't matter how its arranged, just take the first 2 no.s and use what they have in common and do the next 2...
\n" ); document.write( "\"b%5E2%2B16b-10b-160=0\"
\n" ); document.write( "b(b+16)-10(b+16)=0
\n" ); document.write( "(b+16)(b-10)=0
\n" ); document.write( "b+16=0 or b-10=0
\n" ); document.write( "b=-16 (not possible) b=10
\n" ); document.write( "therefore, b=10
\n" ); document.write( "....this might be your problem....were looking for w, not b
\n" ); document.write( "w=(b/2)+3
\n" ); document.write( "w=(10/2)+3
\n" ); document.write( "w=5+3 =8
\n" ); document.write( "voila!
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" );