A rectangular picture has an area of 30 square inches. The length of the picture is 1 inch more than the width. What is the perimeter of the picture?

L = W + 1 (inches)

Area = A = L*W = 30 sq in., so (W)*(W+1) = 30

W^2 + W - 30 = 0 = (W-5)(W+6) = 0, so W = 5 and W = -6.  Discard the negative W.



P=2W + 2L = 2(5 in) + 2(6 in) = 22 inches