SOLUTION: the length of a rectangle is 3 times its width. if the width is diminished by 1 meter and the length is increased by 3 meters, the area of the rectangle that is formed is 72 square

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Question 693982: the length of a rectangle is 3 times its width. if the width is diminished by 1 meter and the length is increased by 3 meters, the area of the rectangle that is formed is 72 square meters. find the dimensions of the original rectangle.
Answer by JBarnum(2146) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
L=Length W=Width A=Area
L=3W
so LW=A is really 4W=A or 3W(W)=A
W-1
L+3=3W+3
A=72 for second rectangle
%283W%2B3%29%28W-1%29=72
3W%5E2-3=72
3W%5E2-75=0
do the quadratic formula
to get 3%28W-5%29%28W%2B5%29=0
two possible answers are 5,-5 however there can not be negative lengths so possitive 5 is what W equals
L=3W so L=15 and W=5
so A=75