<PRE><B>Question 442907</B>
Remember, the area of a rectangle is {{{A = lw}}}
They give us the area,  {{{A=24in^2}}}.
We know that the length is 2 more than the width, so {{{l = w+2}}}

So {{{24 = lw  = (w+2)*(w)}}}
{{{24 = w^2 + 2w}}} 
{{{w^2 +2w - 24 = 0}}}

What multiplies to -24 and adds to 2?  Since our product is negative and our sum is positive, then we must have a negative and positive answer.

Here are the factors of 24:
1 24
2 12
3 8 
4 6

Notice 6 -4 = 2 and 6*-4 = -24.

Then we can write {{{w^2 +2w -24 = (w+6)(w-4)}}}
This gives us answers of {{{w=-6}}}{{{w=4}}}

But does it make sense to have a negative length?  No.

So w=4 is the only LOGICAL answer.

Now plug w=4 back into either our area formula or  l=w+2. I like adding. :P

{{{l = 4 +2  = 6}}}

So our dimension are 6x4, or {{{highlight(l=6in)}}} {{{highlight(w=4in)}}}.

To check:

6 is 2 greater than 4.

6in * 4in= 24 square inches.






</PRE>