The length of a rectangle is 3 inches more than the width. The area is 40 square inches. Find the length of the rectangle

Length is 8 inches

Step-by-step explanation:

Start with area of rectangle

Area = L * W

Also it was stated that L = W+3 (3 inches more than the width)

Substitute W+3 in place of L

Area = (W+3)*W

40 = W^2+ 3W

Move everything to one side of the equation yields

W^2 + 3W -40 = 0

By factoring

(W+8)*(W-5) which would yield results of W = -8 or 5.  Since we are looking for positive values (width of a rectangle) we would get W = 5 inches.  

Using the information from above L = W + 3 = 5 + 3 = 8 inches.

Checking

L*W is area of rectangle.  8 * 5 = 40 which was the stated area (in^2) in the given information.  

step-by-step explanation: