Question

A rectangle has an area of 14 square centimeters. Its length is five cm greater than its width. Find the dimensions.
A. 2 and 7
B. 4 and 9
C. 6 and 8
D. 7 and 7

Answer 1

So you can assume that:

width = x

and

length = x+5

So your

area = x*(x+5)

so you get

14 = x(x+5)

Move everything to one side to get

x^2 + 5x - 14 = 0

Solve for the roots

(x -2)(x + 7) = 0

So x = 2 OR x = -7

But we obviously cannot have a negative dimention.

Therefore x = 2

So our width = 2

And our length = x+5 = 7

Answer 2

So 2 and 7?