Answer:
Step-by-step explanation:
One clue about where to start is this: the sentence describes the length by referring to the width. "The LENGTH is blah, blah, blah, the WIDTH. When that happens, choose a variable to represent the width (the quantity being referred to).
Width = w
Length IS three more than (added to) 4 times (multiplied by) the width
Length = 4w + 3
Area of a rectangle is the width multiplied by the length.
Equation: w(4w + 3) = 24
Solve.
Multiply out the left side.
4w^2 + 3w = 24
Subtract 24.
4w^2 + 3w -24 =0
This equation does not factor. Use the Quadratic Formula. One of the solutions is a negative number, so that should be rejected (width can't be a negative number).
[tex]w=\frac{-3+\sqrt{393}}{8}[/tex]
Substitute this into the expression 4w + 3 to find the length. A calculator can give you decimals for both dimensions.
