SOLUTION: The length of a rectangle is 1 cm longer than its width. If the diagonal of the rectangle is 4 cm, what are the dimensions (the length and the width) of the rectangle?

Algebra ->  Coordinate Systems and Linear Equations  -> Linear Equations and Systems Word Problems -> SOLUTION: The length of a rectangle is 1 cm longer than its width. If the diagonal of the rectangle is 4 cm, what are the dimensions (the length and the width) of the rectangle?      Log On


   

Question 87707: The length of a rectangle is 1 cm longer than its width. If the diagonal of the rectangle is 4 cm, what are the dimensions (the length and the width) of the rectangle?
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
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The length of a rectangle is 1 cm longer than its width. If the diagonal of the rectangle is 4 cm, what are the dimensions (the length and the width) of the rectangle?
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Let the width be x; the length will be "x+1".
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Using Pythagoras:
diagonal^2 = x^2 + (x+1)^2
16= 2x^2 + 2x +1
2x^2+2x-15 = 0
x = [-2+-sqrt(124)]/4
Positive answer:
x = [-2+sqrt(124)]/4
x = 2.28388... (width)
x+1 = 3.28388... (length)
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Cheers,
Stan H.