The area of the rectangle is 15cm2, and the sum of its legs is 11cm. Find legs.
We will solve the problem using conditional variables “X” and “Y”, which will be equal to the values of the legs of the rectangle.
Given the information in this example, we compose the following equations:
1) X x Y = 2 x 15;
2) X + Y = 11.
As a result of solving this system of equations, we obtain X = 11 – Y.
Substituting X in the first equation, we have (11 – Y) x Y = 30 or 11Y – Y ^ 2 = 30 or Y ^ 2 – 11Y + 30 = 0.
Solving the quadratic equation, we have the following roots Y1 = (- (- 11) + √ ((- 11) ^ 2 – 4 x 1 x 30)) / 2 x 1 = (11 + √ (121 – 120)) / 2 = (11 + 1) / 2 = 12/2 = 6 centimeters and Y2 = (- (- 11) – √ ((- 11) ^ 2 – 4 x 1 x 30)) / 2 x 1 = (11 – √ ( 121 – 120)) / 2 = (11 – 1) / 2 = 10/2 = 5 centimeters.
Accordingly, X1 = 11 – 6 = 5 centimeters and X2 = 11 – 5 = 6 centimeters.
Answer: the legs are 5 and 6 centimeters.