Answer:
L = 9
Step-by-step explanation:
Translating this into symbols, we get L = W + 1 and A = 72 = W * L.
Substituting W + 1 for L in the latter equation, we get:
72 = W(W + 1), or:
W^2 + 1W - 72 = 0
This factors into (W + 9)(W - 8) = 0, so that W must be either -9 or +8.
Since W represents width, a physical measurement, we eliminate the negative result and conclude that W = 8 units. Then L = W + 1 = 9 units.
Note that (8)(9) = 72, as we already know.
