document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=116304>Question 116304</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Please help me with this confusing question. I have tried and I just can't seem to figure it out. PLEASE HELP ME!!!! Here is the question:<BR>\n" );
document.write( " What is The area of a rectangle is 24 square meters. Find the length and width of the rectangle if its length is 2 meters greater than its width. Use an equation and the formula ® area of a rectangle = (width)(length).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #84580 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=bucky><B>bucky(2189)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=bucky><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/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=84580\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Start with the equation for the area of a rectangle ...<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Area = width*length<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "or for short:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "A = W * L<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "You are told that the area is 24 square meters, so substitute 24 for A to get:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "24 = W * L<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Next you are told that the length L is equal to the Width plus 2 meters. In equation form<BR>\n" );
document.write( "this is:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "L = W + 2<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Return to the area equation and substitute W + 2 for L and you have:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "24 = W * (W + 2)<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Note that this equation has only 1 variable ... W. Since it only has one variable,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "we have a chance of solving it. Begin by multiplying out the right side:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "24 = W^2 + 2W<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Get this into standard quadratic form by subtracting 24 from both sides to get:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "0 = W^2 + 2W - 24<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Transpose (switch) the sides of the equation to get it into the more familiar form:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "W^2 + 2W - 24 = 0<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Factor the left side:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(W + 6)*(W - 4) = 0<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "This equation will be true if one of the factors equals zero because a multiplication<BR>\n" );
document.write( "by zero on the left side will make the left side equal zero and therefore equal the zero on the<BR>\n" );
document.write( "right side. So set each factor equal to zero and solve for the value of W.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "W + 6 = 0<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Subtract 6 from both sides and you get W = -6. But this doesn't make sense ... a negative width???<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Set the other factor equal to zero:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "W - 4 = 0<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Add 4 to both sides and you get W = 4. That makes sense. The width is 4 meters and since<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the length is 2 meters longer than the width, the length is 6 meters. If you multiply the<BR>\n" );
document.write( "width (4) times the length (6) you get 24 square meters, so that checks.  <BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The answers are length = 6 meters and width = 4 meters.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Hope this helps you to understand the problem.<BR>\n" );
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