Question 465880
"the length of a rectangle is 2 inches longer than its width. the area of the rectangle is 323 in2. find the demensions of the rectangle."


x = width
x + 2 = length {length is 2 longer than width}


Area of a rectangle is width x length

x(x + 2) = 323 {area is width x length}
x² + 2x = 323 {used distributive property}
x² + 2x - 323 = 0 {subtracted 323 from both sides}
(x + 19)(x - 17) = 0 {factored into two binomials}
x + 19 = 0 or x - 17 = 0 {set each factor equal to 0}
x = -19 or x = 17 {subtracted 19 and added 17, respectively}
x = 17 {width cannot be negative}
x + 2 = 19 {substituted 17, in for x, into x + 2}


width = 17 in. and length = 19 in.
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