Question

A rectangle is 5 cm longer than it is wide. If the length and width are both increased by 3 cm, its area is increased by 60 cm2. How do you find the dimensions of the original rectangle?

Answer 1

Let the width be `x` and the length `x + 5`.

`l xx w = A`

`(x + 3)(x + 5 + 3) = x(x + 5) + 60`

`(x + 3)(x + 8) = x^2+ 5x + 60`

`x^2 + 3x + 8x + 24 = x^2 + 5x + 60`

`6x = 36`

`x = 6`

Hence, the width of the original rectangle was `6` and the length was `11`.

Hopefully this helps!