Question 215506
The golden ratio. The ancient Greeks thought that the most pleasing shape for a
 rectangle was one for which the ratio of the length to the width was approximately 8 to 5, the golden ratio. 
If the length of a rectangular painting is 2 ft longer than its width, then for
 what dimensions would the length and width have the golden ratio?
:
Let x = width of the painting
then
(x+2) = length of the painting
:
{{{x/((x+2))}}} = {{{5/8}}}
Cross multiply, results
8x = 5(x+2)
:
8x = 5x + 10
:
8x - 5x = 10
:
3x = 10
x = {{{10/3}}}
x = 3{{{1/3}}} units wide
and
5{{{1/3}}} units long
;
:
Check solution:
5/8 = .625
3.3333/5.3333 = .64998 ~ .625