document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=480823>Question 480823</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Solving Area and Perimeter Problems: Need to use the RSTUV Method to solve\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "   The area of a rectangle is 96 square centimeters. If the width of the rectangle is 4 centimeters less than its length, what are the dimensions of the rctangle?  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #329240 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><B>Theo(13342)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Theo><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=Theo><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=329240\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> RSTUV<BR>\n" );
document.write( "1. Read the problem.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2. Select the unknown.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3. Translate into an equation.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4. Use the rules to solve.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5. Verify the result\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "1.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "area of a rectangle is 96 square cm.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "width is 4 cm less than its length.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "what are dimensions of rectangle.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "let L = length<BR>\n" );
document.write( "let W = width<BR>\n" );
document.write( "let A = area<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "A = L * W<BR>\n" );
document.write( "W = L - 4 cm<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Since W = L-4, then the equation for the area of a rectangle becomes:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "A = L * (L-4)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "A = 96 so equation of:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "A = L * (L-4) becomes:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "96 = L * (L-4)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "perform indicated operations to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "96 = L^2 - 4L<BR>\n" );
document.write( "subtract 96 from both sides of the equation to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "0 = L^2 - 4L -  96<BR>\n" );
document.write( "commute to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "L^2 - 4L - 96 = 0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "this is a quadratic equation.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "factor it to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(L - 12) * (L + 8) = 0<BR>\n" );
document.write( "solve for L to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "L = 12 or L = -8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "L can't be negative so L = 12.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "back to original equation of:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "A = L * W which becomes:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "96 = 12 * W<BR>\n" );
document.write( "divide both sides of this equation by 12 to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "96/12 = W which becomes:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "W = 8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "5.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the dimensions of the rectangle are:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "L = 12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "W = 8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the area of the rectangle is 36 square cm.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "A = L * W becomes A = 12 * 8 which becomes A = 96<BR>\n" );
document.write( "this is the same area we started with so the dimensions of the rectangle look good.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the dimensions are:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "L = 12 cm<BR>\n" );
document.write( "W = 8 cm<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );