SOLUTION: 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 A=(l)(w)

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Question 269264: 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 A=(l)(w)
I started 24=m^2+2m then I went on to say; m^2+2m-24=0 (m+6)(m-4)=0 m=4 or m=-6 but we can't have a length at -6 so I need help please.
Answer by JBarnum(2146) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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 A=(L)(W)
first off where did u get "m" from... use the letters given to not get confused
L=2+W and A=LW where A=24
substitute and solve
24=%282%2BW%29W
24=2W%2BW%5E2
0=W%5E2%2B2W-24 you had it correct
%28W-4%29%28W%2B6%29
so W= -6,4 since we are talking meters and not graphing we deal with possitive numbers so the width is 4
Plug W=4 into this equation to get L
L=2%2BW
L=2%2B4
L=6
so the rectangle is 6m in length and 4m in width