SOLUTION: the width of a rectangle is 5 inches less than its length, and the area is 150 square inches. what is the width of the rectangle?

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Question 33265: the width of a rectangle is 5 inches less than its length, and the area is 150 square inches. what is the width of the rectangle?
Answer by sarah_adam(201) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
let the length and width of the rectangle be L and w
given:
w = L-5
Area = 150 sq inches
area of the rectangle = L*w
150 = L*(L-5)
150 = L%5E2-5l
L%5E2-5L - 150 = 0
L%5E2- 15L+10L -150 = 0
L(L-15)+10(L-15)= 0
(L+10)(L-15)=0
(L+10 )= 0 or (L-15) = 0
L = -10 is not possible as there wont be negative lengths
so L = 15
therfore w = L - 5 = 15 - 5 = 10
L = 15 in and w = 10 in