SOLUTION: The width of a rectangular garden is 4 m shorter than the length. The area is 36m squared. Find the dimnensions of the garden

Algebra ->  Rectangles -> SOLUTION: The width of a rectangular garden is 4 m shorter than the length. The area is 36m squared. Find the dimnensions of the garden      Log On


   

Question 1077062: The width of a rectangular garden is 4 m shorter than the length. The area is 36m squared. Find the dimnensions of the garden
Answer by ikleyn(52814) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
Let x be the value exactly half-way between L and W: x = %28L%2BW%29%2F2.

Then L = x+2, W = x-2.


Then the equation LW = 36 takes the form (x+2)*(x-2) = 36,   or

x%5E2+-+4 = 36,   or   x%5E2 = 40,   or   x = sqrt%2840%29 = 2%2Asqrt%2810%29.


Thus L = 2+%2B+2%2Asqrt%2810%29,  W = 2%2Asqrt%2810%29-2.


Answer.  The dimensions of the rectangle are  2%2Asqrt%2810%29%2B2 meters (the length)  and  2%2Asqrt%2810%29-2 meters (the width).