SOLUTION: The length of a rectangular piece of sheet is 2 in. longer than the width. Find the exact dimensions if the area of the sheet is 168 square in.

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Question 117103: The length of a rectangular piece of sheet is 2 in. longer than the width. Find the exact dimensions if the area of the sheet is 168 square in.
Found 2 solutions by scott8148, ptaylor:
Answer by scott8148(6628) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
let x=width, so x+2=length ___ x(x+2)=168 ___ x^2+2x-168=0

(x+14)(x-12)=0

Answer by ptaylor(2198) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let W=Width
Then Length,L,=W+2
Area (A)=Length(L) times Width (W) or A=L*W or
168=W(W+2) get rid of parens
168=W^2+2W subtract 168 from both sides
W^2+2W-168=168-168
W^2+2W-168=0 quadratic in standard form and it can be factored
W+14)(W-12)=0
W+14=0
W=-14 in----------------------------disregard negative Width
and
W-12=0
W=12 in ---------------------------width
L=W+2=12+2=14 in -------------------length
CK
168=12*14
168=168
also
L=W+2
14=12+2
14=14

Hope this helps---ptaylor