SOLUTION: Here is a word problem....I always have problems with word problems. The width of a rectangle is 8 feet less than the length. If the area is 20 square feet, find the length

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Question 9339: Here is a word problem....I always have problems with word problems.

The width of a rectangle is 8 feet less than the length. If the area is 20 square feet, find the length and width.

Can you please show me how you get the answer as well? I believe the answer is 10 feet = length and width is 2 feet.
Thanks
Answer by rapaljer(4671) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x = the phrase at the end of the first sentence, which is to say,
let x = length.

Then x-8 = width

LW = Area
x(x-8) = 20
x%5E2+-+8x+-20+=+0
+%28x+-+10%29%28x%2B2%29+=+0+
x= 10 and x= -2

You must reject the negative value, so the
length x= 10 feet,
width x-8 = 2 feet.

The check of course is that LW= 10*2 = 20 ft^2.

R^2 at SCC