SOLUTION: the length of a rectangle exceeds it's width by 8 inches, and the area is 20 square inches. what is the length of the rectangle?

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Question 33270: the length of a rectangle exceeds it's width by 8 inches, and the area is 20 square inches. what is the length 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 rectangle be L and W
given:
L = W+8
Area = 20 sq inches
But area = L*W
20 = L*W
20 =(8+W)*W
20 = 8W+W%5E2
W%5E2+8W -20 = 0
W%5E2+10W - 2W -20 = 0
W(W+10)-2(W+10) = 0
(W-2)(W+10) = 0
W - 2 = 0 or W +10 = 0
W = 2 or W = -10 which cannot be as it is a negative value
so W = 2In
L = 2+8 = 10 in
SO length of rectangle is 10 in