Question

The area of a rectangle is 72 square feet. If the length is 14 feet more sizable than the width, what is the length and the width?

Answer 1

Hello,

Explanation:

Without using a second degree:

`\begin{array}Lenght&width&Lenght-width\\-----&----&-------\\72&1&71\\36&2&34\\18&4&\boxed{14}\\9&8&1\\-----&----&-------\\\end{array}`

Answer 2

length = 18 feet , width = 4 feet

Explanation:

let width be w , then length = w + 14

the area (A) of a rectangle is calculated as

A = length × width

given A = 72 , then

w(w + 14) = 72

w² + 14w = 72 ( subtract 72 from both sides )

w² + 14w - 72 = 0 ← in standard form

(w + 18)(w - 4) = 0 ← in factored form

equate each factor to zero and solve for w

w + 18 = 0 ⇒ w = - 18

w - 4 = 0 ⇒ w = 4

however, w > 0 , then w = 4

width = 4 feet and length = 4 + 14 = 18 feet