Question 214089
The length of a rectangle garden is 5 m greater than the width. The area is 66m^2. Find the dimensions of the garden.


Step 1.  Let w be the width and w+5 be the length.  


Step 2.  Let A=66=w(w+5) be the area of the rectangle.


Step 3.  Solving for w yields the following steps


{{{66=w^2+5w}}}


Subtract 66 from both sides of equation to yield a quadratic equation



{{{66-66=w^2+5w-66}}}



{{{w^2+5w-66=0}}}


We can use the quadratic formula given as


{{{x = (-b +- sqrt( b^2-4*a*c ))/(2*a) }}}  where


a=1, b=5 and c=-66


*[invoke quadratic "x", 1,5,-66 ]


Step 4.  Based on the above steps, we select the positive solution 6.  Now we have the width w=6 m and the length w+5=11 m.  Area A=6*11=66 square meters as given in the problem


Step 5.  ANSWER  The dimensions of the rectangle are  6 m and 11 m.


I hope the above steps were helpful. 


For free Step-By-Step Videos on Introduction to Algebra, please visit http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/IntroAlgebra or for Trigonometry visit http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/Trigonometry.


And good luck in your studies!


Respectfully,
Dr J