SOLUTION: The length of a rectangle is 4 meters longer than the width. If the area is 26 square meters, find the rectangles dimensions. Round to the nearest tenth of a meter.

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Question 1114583: The length of a rectangle is 4 meters longer than the width. If the area is 26 square meters, find the rectangles dimensions. Round to the nearest tenth of a meter.
Answer by ikleyn(52817) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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Let x be the mean value between the length and the width.

Then the length is  (x+2) meters, while the width is  (x-2) meters


The area is L*W = (x+2)*(x-2) = x%5E2-4.


The condition gives the equation

x^2 - 4 = 26,


which implies  x%5E2 = 26+4 = 30  ====>  x = sqrt%2830%29.


Then   the length = 2+%2B+sqrt%2830%29 meters;  width = sqrt%2830%29-2 meters.


Check.  The area =  %28sqrt%2830%29%2B2%29%2A%28sqrt%2830%29-2%29 = 30 - 4 = 26.


Answer.  the length = 2+%2B+sqrt%2830%29 meters;  width = sqrt%2830%29-2 meters.

Solved.

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To see other similar problems, solved by the same method, look into the lesson
    - HOW TO solve the problem on quadratic equation mentally and avoid boring calculations
in this site.


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Why this method is good ?   -   Because it allows you to get the solution  MENTALLY,  without long and boring calculations.