HELP! A rectangle's area is A=4²ft. and the width is W=L-3ft. What is the length(L) and width (W). Please show your work so I will understand how you got the answer. Thank you!

Question

nannie · Answer

The area is 4^2

luffingsails · Answer

gah. sorry missed that. I'll delete and repost.

luffingsails · Answer

Method is the same though, just change the numbers.

nannie · Answer

I had (l=7)(L=-1) Didn't get the method

luffingsails · Answer

Are you sure it doesn't say:
$$4ft^2$$
?
Because that is not the same as
$$4^2$$

nannie · Answer

yes it did!

luffingsails · Answer

Okay, so what I posted originally is right:
Given
A = 4ft^2
A = L * W
W = L - 3
So:
$$L^2-3L-4=0$$
$$(L-4)(L+1)=0$$
So, L = 4 or -1
Length can't be negative, so L = 4.
W = L - 3 = 4 - 3 = 1.
Make sense?

nannie · Answer

Yes, Thanks!

luffingsails · Answer

Cool.