SOLUTION: The length of a rectangular frame is 6 cm more than the width. The area inside the frame is 55 square cm. Find the width of the frame.

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: The length of a rectangular frame is 6 cm more than the width. The area inside the frame is 55 square cm. Find the width of the frame.       Log On


   

Question 240343: The length of a rectangular frame is 6 cm more than the width. The area inside the frame is 55 square cm. Find the width of the frame.
Answer by College Student(505) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The formula for the area of a rectangle is: Area = width*lenght
.
Let width = x
and lenght = x + 6
Area = 55 square cm
.
x%28x%2B6%29=55
x%5E2%2B6x=55
x%5E2%2B6x-55=0
%28x%2B11%29%28x-5%29=0
x=-11 or x=5
.
Check:
x%28x%2B6%29=55
-11%28-11%2B6%29=55
-11%28-5%29=55
55=55
.
x%28x%2B6%29=55
5%285%2B6%29=55
5%2A11=55
55=55
.
*** Even though both numbers check, the width of a rectangle (or its lenght for that matter) must be a positive number, so we choose x=5 ***