Question

The area of a rectangle is x2 - 2x - 15 and the length of the rectangle is x + 3. Find the width of the rectangle.

A. x – 5

B. x2 + 15

C. x + 5

D. (x – 2)(x + 3)

Answer 1

Hint: divide the area by the length

and

factor x^2 - 2x - 15 as much as possible

Answer 2

x2 - 2x - 15 = (x+3)(x-5)

Answer 3

good

Answer 4

now divide that by the length

Answer 5

you'll see cancellations

Answer 6

this works because

Area = Length*Width

A = L*W

A/L = W

W = A/L

Answer 7

I end up with \[\frac{ 5 }{ x }\]

Answer 8

that's not correct

Answer 9

I re-did it and still got the same answer. Im doing something wrong

Answer 10

(x+3)(x-5) divided by x+3 is just x-5

Answer 11

since the x+3 terms cancel

Answer 12

That makes sense. Thank you very much.

Answer 13

yw