Question

The length of a rectangle is 3 inches more than the width. The area is 10 square inches. Find the dimensions.The length of the rectangle is__inches, while the width is__inches.

Answer 1

Solution

Step 1

Let the length = 3 + x

The width = x

Step 2

$\begin{gathered} Area\text{ of a rectangle = length }\times\text{ width} \\ \\ 10\text{ = \lparen x+3\rparen x} \\ \\ x^2+3x-10=0 \\ \\ x^2+5x-2x-10=0 \\ \\ x(x+5)-2(x+5)=0 \\ \\ (x+5)(x-2)=0 \\ x\text{ = -5, 2 } \\ x\text{ cannot be negative, hence, x = 2} \end{gathered}$

Step 3

$Length\text{ = 3+2 = 5}$

Final answer

The length of the rectangle is 5 inches

The width is 2 inches.