Question

The short sides of a rectangle are 2 inches. The long sides of the same rectangle are three less than an unknown number of inches.

If the area of the rectangle is 22 square inches, what is the value of the unknown number?

Answer 1

Given:

Short sides of a rectangle = 2 inches.

Area of the rectangle = 22 square inches.

The long sides of the same rectangle are three less than an unknown number of inches.

To find:

The unknown number.

Solution:

Let x be the unknown number. Then the longer side of the rectangle is (x-3) inches.

We know that the area of a rectangle is

$A=length\times width$

The area of the rectangle is 22 square inches.

$22=2(x-3)$

Divide both sides by 2.

$11=x-3$

Add 3 on both sides.

$11+3=x-3+3$

$14=x$

Therefore, the value of the unknown number is 14.