Question 284697
The width of a rectangle is 5 ft. less than the length.  The area of the rectangle is 176 ft.2  Find the width and length of the rectangle.  Formula: Area = Length   Width


let the length of the rectangle be x

the width will be 5 less  = x-5

The area of a rectanle = L * W

x*(x-5) = 176

x^2-5x-176=0

x^2-16x+11x-176=0

x(x-16)+11(x-16)=0

(x-16)(x+11)=0

x=16 or x= -11

x=16 is positive 

so length = 16 feet