Question

The width of a rectangle is the length minus 3 units. The area of the rectangle is 10

units. What is the width, in units, of the rectangle?

Answer 1

w=2 l=5

Step-by-step explanation: I got it right

Answer 2

w=2

Explanation:

A=length times width (A=lw)

w= l-3

A=10

Substituting in, we get:

10= l(l-3)

Now, solve the equation.

10=
`l^(2)`-3l

`l^(2)`-3l-10=0

(l+2) (l-5)=0 (factoring the equation)

Therefore, l= -2 or 5

Throw out the negative value because a length of rectangle will never be negative.

Now let's solve for width

Remember w=l-3

therefore

(5)-3=2

so, w=2

(honestly, this is easier to just do in your head. But here is the long form math if you happen to run into more complicated problems.)