SOLUTION: The length of a rectangle is 5 centimeters longer than its width. The area is 24 square centimeters. Find the dimensions of the rectangle. I've tried the formula A=1/2bh but I'm no

Algebra ->  Rectangles -> SOLUTION: The length of a rectangle is 5 centimeters longer than its width. The area is 24 square centimeters. Find the dimensions of the rectangle. I've tried the formula A=1/2bh but I'm no      Log On


   

Question 850210: The length of a rectangle is 5 centimeters longer than its width. The area is 24 square centimeters. Find the dimensions of the rectangle. I've tried the formula A=1/2bh but I'm not sure how to find the base and height to plug in.
Found 2 solutions by checkley79, Ash14:
Answer by checkley79(3341) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
THE FORMULA IS:
AREA=LENGTH*WIDTH.
THE LENGTH=WIDTH+5
24=(W+5)W
24=W^2+5W
W^2+5W-24=0
(W+8)(W-3)=0
W-3=0
W=3 ANS.
L=3+5
L=8 ANS.
PROOF:
24=8*3
24=24


Answer by Ash14(5) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
the area ; A =WL
w=width
L=length
........
now
" rectangle is 5 centimeters longer than its width."means;
length=5+W
..........
The area is 24 ,MEANS;
W*L=24
........
now we have 2 equations
the first one is length=5+W
and the second one is W*L=24
sub the value of length in second equation
w*L=24
W*(5+w)=24
w*5+W*W=24
5w+w^2=24
by simple algebra find value of w
w^2+5w-24=0
(w+8)(w-3)=0
so
w=3 or w=-8
we cross out w=-8 (because we can not have a negative value for length)
so we only use w=3 cm
...................
now
sub value of w in the firs equation
which is
length =5+w
length=5+(3)
length=8 cm
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good luck :)