A rectangle is 4cm longer than it is wide, and its area is 117 cm2. Find its dimensions.

Have a simple sketch.

Let the length of the rectangle be x and the width be y.

The length is longer by 4, as compared to the width.
That means that x = y + 4

You have to add 4 to the width so that both are of the same length.

How do you find area? It's length times width, hence xy. That is equal to 117. So, xy = 117. Now you have:

x = y + 4
xy = 117.

Solve simultaneously to get the answers.