Question

A photograph has a length that is 6 inches longer than its width, x. So its area is given by the expression x(x+6) square inches. If the area of the photograph is 112 square inches, what is the width of the photograph?
The width of the photograph is __inches.

Answer 1

Answer: 8 inches

Solving Steps:

x(x + 6) = 112
x^2 + 6x = 112
x^2 + 6x - 112 = 0
(x + 14)(x - 8) = 0
x + 14 = 0
x = -14
^^^ reject because distance can’t be negative
x - 8 = 0
x = 8

Check:

x(x + 6) = 112
8(8 + 6) = 112
64 + 48 = 112
112 = 112