The width of a rectangle is 2 feet less that the length. The area is 3 feet^2. Find the length and width.

length = x

width = x-2

solve x(x-2) = 3 or
x^2 - 2x - 3 = 0

hint: it factors very easily

Ok I think I am even more confused: its 3 feet^2

So is it x^2-2x-9=0

because if I use what you gave me would it be

(x-3)(x+1)

and then what would i do?

huH?

length x width = area
x(x-2) = 3 ---- (it was given as 3 square units)

x^2 - 2x - 3 = 0
(x-3)(x+1) = 0

x = 3 or x=-1, the second answer is extraneous

check: x = 3 , so
length = 3
width = 3-2 = 1
area = 3x1 = 3
my answer checks!

Ok, so i did the problem right, but just was not sure what to do with them. sorry for the confusion...thanks for the help!

To find the length and width of the rectangle, we can set up a system of equations based on the given information.

Let's suppose the length of the rectangle is L in feet.

According to the given information, the width of the rectangle is 2 feet less than the length, so we can express the width as L - 2.

The formula for the area of a rectangle is:

Area = length × width

So, we have the equation:

3 = L × (L - 2)

To solve this equation, we can expand it:

3 = L² - 2L

Rearranging the equation:

L² - 2L - 3 = 0

Now, we can factorize or use the quadratic formula to solve for L. In this case, it's simpler to factorize:

(L - 3)(L + 1) = 0

Setting each factor equal to zero:

L - 3 = 0 or L + 1 = 0

Solving for L:

L = 3 or L = -1

Since lengths cannot be negative, we discard the solution L = -1.

Therefore, the length of the rectangle is 3 feet.

Now, we can determine the width:

Width = Length - 2 = 3 - 2 = 1 foot

So, the length of the rectangle is 3 feet, and the width is 1 foot.