SOLUTION: The length of a rectangle is 3 times the width. The area is 48 square feet. Find the length and width of the rectangle.

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Question 808077: The length of a rectangle is 3 times the width. The area is 48 square feet. Find the length and width of the rectangle.
Answer by algebrahouse.com(1659) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x = width
3x = length {length is 3 times the width}

Area of a rectangle = length x width

x(3x) = 48 {substituted length and width into area formula}
3x² = 48 {multiplied}
x² = 16 {divided each side by 3}
x = 4 or -4 {took square root of each side}

x = 4 {width cannot be negative}
3x = 12 {substituted 4, in for x, into 3x}

width = 4 ft
length = 12 ft

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