SOLUTION: Word problems give me a very hard time. Figuring out how to set up the problem is my biggest problem. Can u please help me. The height of a box is 8inches. The length is three i

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Misc -> SOLUTION: Word problems give me a very hard time. Figuring out how to set up the problem is my biggest problem. Can u please help me. The height of a box is 8inches. The length is three i      Log On

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Question 565488: Word problems give me a very hard time. Figuring out how to set up the problem is my biggest problem. Can u please help me.
The height of a box is 8inches. The length is three inches more thane the width. Find the width if the volume is 144.
Inches-8
Width-3(x)
Volume-144
So would it be : 3(x) + 8= 144?
Found 2 solutions by scott8148, Leaf W.:
Answer by scott8148(6628) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
V = L * W * H ___ 144 = L * W * 8 ___ 18 = L * W

"The length is three inches more thane the width" ___ L = W + 3

substituting ___ 18 = (W + 3)(W) ___ 18 = W^2 + 3W ___ 0 = W^2 + 3W - 18

factoring ___ 0 = (W + 6)(W - 3)

Answer by Leaf W.(135) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The volume of the box can be calculated by length times width times height, or volume+=+length%2Awidth%2Aheight.
height = 8 inches
width = x
length = x + 3 inches (three inches more than the width)
volume = 144 in%5E2
Simply plug these into your formula for volume:
volume+=+length%2Awidth%2Aheight
144+=+%28x+%2B+3%29%28x%29%288%29 <==YOUR FORMULA
Multiply 8 and x: 144+=+%28x+%2B+3%29%288x%29
Multiply x + 3 and 8x: 144+=+8x%5E2+%2B+24x
Subtract 144 from both sides of the equation: 0+=+8x%5E2+%2B+24x+-+144
Divide everything by 8: 0+=+x%5E2+%2B+3x+-+18
Factor: 0 = (x - 3)(x + 6)
Put each part equal to 0 and solve for x:
x - 3 = 0 and x + 6 = 0
x = 3 or -6
Since a measurement cannot be negative, the width must be 3 INCHES.
Hope I helped! =)