Problema Solution

A rectangle's length is one-and-a-half times its width. The length is increased by 4 inches and its width by 3 inches. The resulting area is 97 square inches more than the original rectangle. What were the original dimensions?

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let


l = the original length of the rectangle

w = the original width of the rectangle

A = l*w is the area of the rectangle


length is one-and-a-half times its width


l = 1.5*w


length is increased by 4 inches: l + 4

width by 3 inches: w + 3

resulting area: (l + 4)(w + 3)


resulting area is 97 square inches more than the original rectangle


(l + 4)(w + 3) = 97 + lw


3l + 4w + lw + 12 = 97 + lw


3l + 4w = 97 - 12 + lw - lw


3l + 4w = 85


by solving the system of equations


l = 1.5*w

3l + 4w = 85


we find


l = 15 in


w = 10 in


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the original dimensions of the rectangle are 15 inches length and 10 inches width.