document.write( "Question 883642: The length of a rectangle is 5 feet longer than its width. If its area is 36 feet, what are its dimensions? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #533660 by algebrahouse.com(1659) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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x = width
\n" ); document.write( "x + 5 = length {length is 5 longer than width}\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Area of a rectangle = width x length\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x(x + 5) = 36 {substituted width and length into area formula}
\n" ); document.write( "x² + 5x = 36 {used distributive property}
\n" ); document.write( "x² + 5x - 36 = 0 {subtracted 36 from each side}
\n" ); document.write( "(x + 9)(x - 4) = 0 {factored into two binomials}
\n" ); document.write( "x + 9 = 0 or x - 4 = 0 {set each factor equal to 0}
\n" ); document.write( "x = -9 or x = 4 {solved each equation for x}\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "x = 4 {width cannot be negative}
\n" ); document.write( "x + 5 = 9 {substituted 4, in for x, into x + 5}\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "width = 4 ft
\n" ); document.write( "length = 9 ft
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