Question 67714

Let x=width

Length of one=x+1

Length of other=x+2
Area = Length times Width


Now we are told that:

x(x+2)=x(x+1)+4  clear parens
x^2+2x=x^2+x+4  subtract x^2 and x from both sides

x^2-x^2+2x-x=x^2-x^2+x-x+4 collect like terms

x=4 feet----------------width of the rectangles

x+1=4+1=5 feet--------- length of one
x+2=4+2=6 feet-----------length of the other


ck

Area of smaller=4*5=20 sq ft

Area of larger=4*6=24 sq ft

Larger is 4 more than smaller----checks


Hope this helps ----ptaylor