SOLUTION: How do I set this problem and solve it? I think I am missing a step. The floor of a shed has an area of 117 square feet. The floor is in the shape of a rectangle whose length is

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Misc -> SOLUTION: How do I set this problem and solve it? I think I am missing a step. The floor of a shed has an area of 117 square feet. The floor is in the shape of a rectangle whose length is      Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


    

Question 879399: How do I set this problem and solve it? I think I am missing a step.
The floor of a shed has an area of 117 square feet. The floor is in the shape of a rectangle whose length is 5 feet less than twice the width. Find the length and the width of the floor of the shed.
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
w for width and L for length.

wL=117 and L=-5%2B2w;
-
w%28-5%2B2w%29=117
2w%5E2-5w=117
2w%5E2-5w-117=0
-
w=%285%2B-+sqrt%281061%29%29%2F%282%2A2%29, 1061 is a prime number.
highlight%28w=%285%2Bsqrt%281061%29%29%2F4%29, we need the positive solution.

L=2w-5
L=%285%2Bsqrt%281061%29%29%2F2%2B5%282%2F2%29
highlight%28L=%2810%2Bsqrt%281061%29%29%2F2%29
OR
highlight%28L=5%2Bsqrt%281061%29%2F2%29