Question

Tom decides to make a rectangular desk top from a plywood door that was stored in the basement. The door was 2 feet longer than twice its width. To get the desired size desk he cuts 3 inches off its length and 1/2 foot off its width. If the plywood he cut off had a total area of 9 1/2 feet, what were the original dimensions of the door?

Answer 1

Let x = original width, then 2x+2 = length.

x(2x+2) - (2x+1.75) * (x-.5) = 9.5

Solve for x, then 2x+2