Question

a rectangles width is 6 feet less than its length. if the area of the rectangle is 247 square feet what is its length in feet

Answer 1

Length of the rectangle, L = 19 ft

Explanation:

Area of a rectangle = Length * Width

Area of the rectangle, A = 247 ft²

Let the length of the rectangle be L

The width of the rectangle = W

Since the width of the rectangle is 6 ft less that the length;

W = L - 6

A = L * W

247 = L * (L - 6)

247 = L² - 6L

L² - 6L - 247 = 0

By solving the quadratic equation above:

(L - 19)(L + 13) = 0

L - 19 = 0, L = 19

L + 13 = 0; L = -13

Since the length of a rectangle cannot be negative, L = 19 ft

Answer 2

The answer is

19 feet

Explanation:

Area of a rectangle = length × width

let w be the width and l be the length

Area of rectangle = 247 ft²

width is 6 feet less than its length is

w = l - 6

247 = l( 1 - 6)

l² - 6l - 247 = 0

(l + 13) (l - 19) = 0

l + 13 = 0 l - 19 = 0

l = - 13 l = 19

Since the length should be positive

The length of the rectangle is

19 feet

Hope this helps you