Question

The length of a rectangle is 5 less than twice the width, and the area of the rectangle is 52 ft^2. Find the dimensions of the rectangle.

Answer 1

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Answer:

  6.5 ft wide by 8 ft long

Step-by-step explanation:

We can let x represent the width of the rectangle. Then the length is ...

  L = 2x -5

and the area is ...

  A = LW = (2x -5)(x) = 52

  2x² -5x -52 = 0 . . . . . put in standard form

  (2x -13)(x +4) = 0 . . . . factor

  x = 6.5, -4 . . . . . . . . . . values that make the factors zero

The length is then ...

  L = A/W = 52/6.5 = 8

or

  L = 2W -5 = 2(6.5) -5 = 13 -5 = 8

The rectangle is 6.5 feet wide and 8 feet long.