Question

The length of a rectangle is 1 meter less than its
width. The area of the rectangle is 42 square
meters. Find the dimensions of the rectangle.

Answer 1

If the length of the rectangle is x, then we know the width is x + 1.

The area of a rectangle is length · width, so we can substitute as x · (x + 1)

Now, we now x · (x + 1) = 42

Expand

x² + x = 42

Solve

x² + x - 42 = 0

(x + 7)(x - 6) = 0

So, x = 6

That means the length is 6 meters and the width is 7 meters.