Question 471052: The width of a rectangle is 1 ft less than the length. The area is 2 ft^2. Find the length and the width.
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Answer by algebrahouse.com(1659)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! x = length
x - 1 = width {width is one less than the length}
Area of a rectangle is length x width.
x(x - 1) = 2 {area is length times width}
x² - x = 2 {used distributive property}
x² - x - 2 = 0 {subtracted 2 from both sides}
(x - 2)(x + 1) = 0 {factored into two binomials}
x - 2 = 0 or x + 1 = 0 {set each factor equal to 0}
x = 2 or x = -1 {solved each equation for x}
x = 2 {length cannot be negative}
x - 1 = 1 {substituted 2, in for x, into x - 1}
width = 1 ft and length = 2 ft
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