document.write( "Question 332563: The width of a rectangle is 5cm less than half its length. Its area is 72cm^2. What is the length and width of the rectangle? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #238301 by nerdybill(7384)\"\" \"About 
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The width of a rectangle is 5cm less than half its length. Its area is 72cm^2. What is the length and width of the rectangle?
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\n" ); document.write( "Let x = length of rectangle
\n" ); document.write( "then
\n" ); document.write( "x/2 - 5 = width
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\n" ); document.write( "x(x/2 - 5) = 72
\n" ); document.write( "multiplying both sides by 2:
\n" ); document.write( "x(x - 10) = 144
\n" ); document.write( "x^2 - 10x = 144
\n" ); document.write( "x^2 - 10x - 144 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "(x-18)(x+8) = 0
\n" ); document.write( "x = {18, -8}
\n" ); document.write( "Tossing out the negative solution leaves:
\n" ); document.write( "x = 18 cm (length)
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\n" ); document.write( "width:
\n" ); document.write( "x/2 - 5 = 18/2 - 5 = 9 - 5 = 4 cm (width) \n" ); document.write( "
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