# Math Help - Rectangle problem??

1. ## Rectangle problem??

I have never known how to do these problems and there are plenty on the exam.

A rectangle has an area of (x^3-6x^2+10x-8) square meters and a width of (x-4) meters. What is its length?

How would I set this problem up???

2. Originally Posted by tiffieblah
I have never known how to do these problems and there are plenty on the exam.

A rectangle has an area of (x^3-6x^2+10x-8) square meters and a width of (x-4) meters. What is its length?

How would I set this problem up???
If we just forget about the $x$ for a minute, I'm sure you know that the equation for the area of a rectangle is $A = w \times l$

Putting your above values into that question, we get the equation:

$x^3-6x^2+10x-8 = (x - 4)l$

Or $l = \frac{x^3-6x^2+10x-8}{x - 4}$

What we have now is just a simple polynomial division question.

There are several methods to solve this, I would suggest Synthetic Division, but use whatever method you have been taught.

Hope this helps

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