SOLUTION: I am really having troubles with these word problems. The length of a rectangle is 6 cm more than its width. If the area of the rectangle is 88 cm^2, find the dimensions. round

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Question 762490: I am really having troubles with these word problems.
The length of a rectangle is 6 cm more than its width. If the area of the rectangle is 88 cm^2, find the dimensions. round to nearest thousandth.
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let the width = +w+ cm
The length is +w+%2B+6+ cm
Area = ( length ) x ( width ), so
+88+=+w%2A%28+w+%2B+6+%29+
+w%5E2+%2B+6w+=+88+
You can complete the square:
+w%5E2+%2B+6w+%2B+%286%2F2%29%5E2+=+88+%2B+%286%2F2%29%5E2+
+w%5E2+%2B+6w+%2B+9+=+88+%2B+9+
+%28+w+%2B+3+%29%5E2+=+97+
Take the square root of both sides
+w+%2B+3+=+sqrt%2897%29+
+w+=+sqrt%2897%29+-+3+
+w+=+9.8489+-+3+
+w+=+6.849+
and
Length = +w+%2B+6+
Length = +12.849+
------------------
check:
+A+=+L%2AW+
+88+=+6.849%2A12.849+
+88+=+88.003+
close enough