Name: Lori
Who is asking: Parent
Level of the question: All

Question: The length of a rectangle is 1 cm more than 3 times its width. If the area of the rectangle is 61 cm2, find the dimensions of the rectangle to the nearest thousandth.

 

Hi Lori,

Suppose that the length of the rectangle is L cm and the width is W cm, then the area is 61 cm2 so

L W = 61

You also know that L is 1 cm more than 3 times W, that is L is 1 more than 3W. In other words

L = 3W + 1

Substituting this expression for L into the expression for the area I get

(3W + 1) W = 61

Solve for W.

Penny