SOLUTION: A rectangle has an area of 54 square feet. The length is 3 feet more than the width. Find the dimensions of the rectangle.

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Question 668983: A rectangle has an area of 54 square feet. The length is 3 feet more than the width. Find the dimensions of the rectangle.
Answer by vleith(2983) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let w be the width. You are told the length, l, is w%2B3
You know the area of a rectangle is given by Area+=+length+%2A+width
Plug in
Area+=+length+%2A+width
54+=+%28w%2B3%29+%2A+w
54+=+w%5E2+%2B+3w
0+=+w%5E2+%2B+3w+-+54
0+=+%28w+%2B9%29%28w-6%29
So w must be either -9 or 6
Since the width can;t be negative, it must be 6 feet.
That makes the length 6+3 = 9 feet.