document.write( "Question 607574: The surface area of a box is 142 square centimeters. The length of
\n" ); document.write( "the base is 2 centimeters longer than its width. The height of the
\n" ); document.write( "box is 2 centimeters less than the width of the base. Find the
\n" ); document.write( "dimensions of the box.
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Algebra.Com's Answer #382812 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)\"\" \"About 
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The surface area of a box is 142 square centimeters.
\n" ); document.write( " The length of the base is 2 centimeters longer than its width.
\n" ); document.write( " The height of the box is 2 centimeters less than the width of the base.
\n" ); document.write( " Find the dimensions of the box.
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "2(L*W) + 2(L*H) + 2(W*H) = 142
\n" ); document.write( "Simplify, divide by 2
\n" ); document.write( "(L*W) + (L*H) + (W*H) = 71
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "\"The length of the base is 2 centimeters longer than its width.\"
\n" ); document.write( "L = (W+2)
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "\"The height of the box is 2 centimeters less than the width of the base.\"
\n" ); document.write( "H = (W-2)
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "(L*W) + (L*H) + (W*H) = 71
\n" ); document.write( "Replace L & H
\n" ); document.write( "W(W+2) + (W+2)(W-2) + W(W-2) = 71
\n" ); document.write( "W^2 + 2W + W^2 - 4 + W^2 - 2W = 71
\n" ); document.write( "Combine like terms
\n" ); document.write( "3W^2 - 4 = 71
\n" ); document.write( "3W^2 = 71 + 4
\n" ); document.write( "3W^2 = 75
\n" ); document.write( "Divide both sides by 3
\n" ); document.write( "W^2 = 25
\n" ); document.write( "W = \"sqrt%2825%29\"
\n" ); document.write( "W = 5 cm is the width
\n" ); document.write( "then
\n" ); document.write( "7 cm is the length
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( "3 cm is the height
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\n" ); document.write( "See if that checks out
\n" ); document.write( "2(7*5) + 2(7*3) + 2(5*3) =
\n" ); document.write( "2(35) + 2(21) + 2(15) = 142
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