<PRE><B>Question 308574</B>
Simplify the first equation by dividing both sides by 2.
L+W= 41


Solve for W: 
W=41-L


Substitute back into the other equation:

LW=418
L(41-L)=418
41L-L^2-418=0


Multiply both sides by -1:
L^2 -41L +418=0


The hard part is to find two numbers that multiply to give you 418, and that adds up to 41.  The way I teach this is to start with 1 and make a list as follows:


1*418
2*209
11*38
19*22


This is the combination!

(L-19)(L-22)=0
L=19  or L=22


This means that 19 is the width and 22 is the length.


Dr. Robert J. Rapalje, Retired


P.S.  Nice problem!!!</PRE>