Question

The length of a rectangle is 4 cm more than the width. The are is 96 cm squared. Find the dimensions of the rectangle.

Answer 1

width = w

length = w+4

Area = l*w

substitute

96 = (w+4) *w

distribute

96 = w^2 +4w

subtract 96 from both sides

0 = w^2 +4w -96

factor

0=(w+12) (w-8)

w+12=0  w-8=0

w=-12  w=8

cannot have negative width

w=8

l=12

Answer:  width =8 cm

length = 12cm