A rectangular piece of sheet metal is 4 ft longer than it is wide. (See the illustration in the link below.) The area of the piece of sheet metal is 12 ft^2. Find its length and width.

Question

A rectangular piece of sheet metal is 4 ft longer than it is wide. (See the illustration in the link below.) The area of the piece of sheet metal is 12 ft^2. Find its length and width.
www.webassign.net/ewenmath10/11-3-003-alt.gif

anonymous · Answer

length =x+4 width =x x(x+4)=12 x^2+4x-12=0 x^2-2x+6x-12=0 x(x-2)+6(x-2)=0 (x+6)(x-2)=0 length = 6 width = 2