The length of a rectangular air filter is 5 inches less than twice the width. Find the length and width of the filter if the area is 493 square inches

First, lets find write out the formula for length. Length is 5 inches less than twice the width. One way to right it is: L = 2*W - 5. The area of a rectangle is 493 and the formula for a rectangle is L*W. So we can write that as L*W = 493. Now we can solve for L. Rewrite L = 493/W. Then plug L into L = 2*W - 5, which makes 493/W = 2*W - 5. Using algebra Width = 17. Plug W = 17 into L = 2*W - 5 and length equals 29 inches.