SOLUTION: Shape:Rectangle Area:16m^2 Make length 2m less than 3 times it's width Find the length and width

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Question 1167486: Shape:Rectangle
Area:16m^2
Make length 2m less than 3 times it's width
Find the length and width
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, ikleyn:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39631) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
w, the width
3w-2, the length

w%283w-2%29=16




3w%5E2-2w-16=0
-
w=%282%2B-+sqrt%284%2B12%2A16%29%29%2F6
highlight%28w=2%262%2F3%29

Answer by ikleyn(52924) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

            I will show you how to solve it  MENTALLY. 


Let     W       is the width.

Then    3W - 2  is the length.


The area is

   W*(3W-2) = 48.


Multiply both sides by 3

   3W*(3W-2) = 48.


So, the number 48 is presented as the product of two factors what differ by 2.


If you think 5 seconds, you guess these numbers: 6 and 8.


Hence,  3W = 8  and then  W = 8%2F3 = 2 2%2F3.


That's all.