document.write( "Question 824427: the length of a rectangle is 5 less than the width. the area is 36 square inches. find the length and width.
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Algebra.Com's Answer #496478 by FightinBlueHens(27)\"\" \"About 
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Area = length * width --> A = l * w
\n" ); document.write( "the length is 5 less than the width so l = w - 5
\n" ); document.write( "Area = w * (w-5)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "36 = w * (w-5)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "What two numbers that are multiplied together give you 36 that are 5 units apart?\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "w = 9 (because it is the larger side)
\n" ); document.write( "l = 4 (because it is the shorter side)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "OR
\n" ); document.write( "w^2 - 5w -36 = 0
\n" ); document.write( "Use the quadratic formula:
\n" ); document.write( "w = (5+-sqrt((-5)^2-4*1*-36))/2*1
\n" ); document.write( "w = (5+-sqrt(25+144))/2
\n" ); document.write( "w =(5+-sqrt(169))/2
\n" ); document.write( "w = (5+-13)/2
\n" ); document.write( "w = 18/2 = 9 OR w = -8/2 = -4
\n" ); document.write( "w is a length so it cannot be negative. w is therefore 9. This answer works because if w is 5 greater than the length, the length is 4, and 9 * 4 = 36. \n" ); document.write( "
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