Question

The width of a rectangle is 7 feet less than its length. If the area of the rectangle is 170 square feet, then find the length and width. What is the proper way set up this equation?

Answer 1

`170 = (l-7)l`

`l^2 - 7l - 170=0`

`(l-17)(l+10)=0`

We can skip `l=-10` and conclude

`l=17, w=10`