document.write( "Question 426018: The length of a rectangle is 1ft less than twice its width, and the area of the rectangle is 36ft^2 . Find the dimensions of the rectangle. \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #296455 by josmiceli(19441) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Let $\"W\"$ = width
\n" ); document.write( "Let $\"L\"$ = length
\n" ); document.write( "given:
\n" ); document.write( "(1) $\"+W%2AL+=+36+\"$ ft2
\n" ); document.write( "(2) $\"+L+=+2W+-+1+\"$ ft
\n" ); document.write( "-----------------
\n" ); document.write( "From (1):
\n" ); document.write( "(1)

\n" ); document.write( "Multiply both sides by $\"W\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+36+=+2w%5E2+-+W+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+2W%5E2+-+W+-+36+=+0+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Use quadratic equation:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"W+=+%28-b+%2B-+sqrt%28+b%5E2-4%2Aa%2Ac+%29%29%2F%282%2Aa%29+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"a+=+2\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"b+=+-1\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"c+=+-36\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"W+=+%28-%28-1%29+%2B-+sqrt%28+%28-1%29%5E2-4%2A2%2A%28-36%29+%29%29%2F%282%2A2%29+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"W+=+%28+1+%2B-+sqrt%28+1%2B+288+%29%29%2F+4+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+W+=+%281+%2B+17%29%2F4+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+W+=+9%2F2+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"W+=+4.5+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+L+=+2W+-+1+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+L+=+9+-+1+\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"+L+=+8+\"$
\n" ); document.write( "The dimensions are 4.5 ft x 8 ft \n" ); document.write( "

\n" );