Draw a rectangle. If the length is 3 inches longer than its width, we can write the width as "w" and the length as the width + 3 Area is (width)(Length) = (width)(width+3)
W ---------- | | | | | | L = w+3 | | | | -----------
A = (w+3)(w) A = w2 + 3w = 108. (Problem states that area is 108 sq in)
Need to solve this quadratic equation
w2 + 3y - 108 = 0
Factor: (w - 9) (w + 12) = 0
So w - 9 = 0. or. w + 12 = 0
Solve these and get w = 9. or. w = -12
Only one that makes sense in real life is the poitive one.
