Question

The length of a rectangle is 5 m less than twice the width, and the area is 33 m. Find the dimensions of the rectangle.

Answer 1

Check the picture below

it can't be -3... since is width unit, so it has to be the other

and recall that length = 2w - 5

Answer 2

5 cm less than twice the width: 

$l = 2w - 5$

$A = lw$

$33 = lw$ 

$33 = (2w - 5)(w)$

$33 = 2w^2 - 5w$

$2w^2 - 5w - 33 = 0$

$w = 5.5, -3$

-3 is an extraneous solution, so the only answer is $w = 5.5$

$33 = 5.5l$

$\frac {33}{5.5} = ( \frac{5.5}{5.5})(l)$

$6 = l$

The dimensions of the rectangle are a length of 6, and a width of 5.5