SOLUTION: the width of a rectangle is 2ft less than the length. The area is 3ft^2. Find the length and width.

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Question 478444: the width of a rectangle is 2ft less than the length. The area is 3ft^2. Find the length and width.
Answer by Maths68(1474) About Me  (Show Source):
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Width=w
Length=l
w = l-2 ………….(1)
Area of rectangle (A) = 3
A= l * w
Put the values of ‘w’ and ‘A’ in above equation.
3= l * (l – 2)
3=l^2-2l
l^2-2l-3=0
l^2-3l+l-3=0
l(l-3)+1(l-3)=0
(l+1)(l-3)=0
l+1=0 or l-3=0
l=-1 or l=3
Length cannot be negative
Therefore l=3 ft
Put the value of l in equation (1)
w = l-2
w =3-2
w=1 ft