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  • Feb 22, 2013, 02:51 PM
    holly_arato
    Area/wordproblem/equations in Algebra
    The original length of the rectangle is 3 more than 3x it's width. If the Length and Width are both increased by 4cm the resultant area is 198 cm^2. What are the original dimensions?
  • Feb 22, 2013, 04:00 PM
    mendozaulises78
    Equation 1. L = 3W+3;
    Equation 2. Area = L*W;

    Equation 3. Area = (L+4)*(W+4)=198

    We substitute Equation 1 in 3

    ((3W+3)4)*(W+4)=198
    (3W+7)*(W+4) = 198
    3W^2+19W+28=198
    3W^2+19W-170=0;

    3W^2+19W-170=0 --> (ax^2+bx+c) --> a=3, b=19, c = -170
    To solve:
    x = (-b +/- sqrt(b^2-4aC) )/2a

    W = (-19 +/- sqrt((19^2)-4(3)(-170))/2(3)
    W= (-19+/- sqrt(361+2040))/6
    W = (-19 +/- sqrt(2401))/6
    W = (-19+/- 49)/6
    W1 = (-19-49)/6
    W2=(-19+49)/6

    W1 = -68/6 = -11.83 --> We discard this because it is negative
    W2 = 30/6 = 5. --> This is the value of the width

    So
    W = 5
    replacing in equation 1.

    L = 3W+3
    L = 3(5)+3=18

    If we add 4 to each length and widht we have an area of

    (5+4)*(18+4) = 9*22=198

    So the width is 5 cm, the length is 18 cm.

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