The width of a rectangle is 8 less than twice its length. If the area of the rectangle is 93

cm
2
, what is the length of the diagonal?

2 answers

If its length is x, then its width is 2x-8
x(2x-8) = 93
solve for x, and then use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the diagonal.
L = Length

W = Width

A = Area

The width of a rectangle is 8 less than twice its length means:

W = 2 L - 8

A = L ∙ W

93 = L ∙ ( 2 L - 8 )

93 = 2 L² - 8 L

Subtract 93 to both sides

0 = 2 L² - 8 L - 93

Now solve equation:

2 L² - 8 L - 93 = 0

The solutions are:

L = 2 - √ ( 101 / 2 ) = - 5.1063 cm

and

L = 2 + √ ( 101 / 2 ) = 9.1063 cm

Length cannot be negative, so:

L = 2 + √ ( 101 / 2 )

W = 2 L - 8

W = 2 [ 2 + √ ( 101 / 2 ) ] - 8

W = 4 + 2 √ ( 101 / 2 ) - 8

W = 2 √ ( 101 / 2 ) - 4

W = √4 ∙ √ ( 101 / 2 ) - 4

W = (√ 4 ∙ 101 / 2 ) - 4

W = (√ 404 / 2 ) - 4

W = √202 - 4

W = 14.21267 - 4 = 10.21267 cm

Length of the diagonal:

d = √ ( L² + W² )

d = √ ( 9.1063² + 10.21267² )

d = 13.633 cm