The length of a rectangle is 4 cm more than the width. The are is 96 cm squared. Find the dimensions of the rectangle.

width = w

length = w+4

Area = l*w

substitute

96 = (w+4) * w

distribute

96 = w^2 + 4w

subtract 96 from both sides

0 = w^2 + 4w - 96

factor

0 = (w+12) (w-8)

w+12=0 w-8=0

w=-12 w=8

cannot have negative width

w=8

l=12

Answer: width = 8 cm

length = 12cm