Question 841173
The area of a rectangle is 156 feet. What are the demensions of the rectangle if the length is one foot longer than the width?



Let x be the width. Since the "length is one foot longer than the width", we know that the length is x+1


Area = Length * Width


A = (x+1)*x ... plug in x+1 for the length, x for the width


A = x(x+1)


156 = x(x+1) ... plug in the given area


156 = x^2 + x


0 = x^2 + x - 156


x^2 + x - 156 = 0


(x + 13)(x - 12) = 0 ... note: you can use the quadratic formula if you don't see how it factors


x + 13 = 0 or x - 12 = 0


x = -13 or x = 12


Since we cannot have a negative width, toss out x = -13. So the only solution is x = 12


The width is <font color="red">12 feet</font>


The length is x + 1 = 12+1 = <font color="red">13 feet</font>