The area of this rectangle is 5x^2. what does the coefficient 5 mean in terms of the problem

it means that the length is 5 times the width

x = -4

step-by-step explanation:

- 20 - 4(x + 3) = 4x

=> -20 - 4x - 12 = 4x

=> - 32 -4x = 4x

=> -32 = 4x + 4x

=> - 32 = 8x

=> -32/8 = x

=> -4 = x

we have three similar triangles, because each has a right angle and shares an angle.   let's write the angles in order: opposite to short leg, long leg, hypotenuse.

cab similar to bad similar to cbd

or as ratios,

ca: ab: cb = ba: ad: bd = cb: bd: cd

we also know

ac = ad + cd

(ad+cd): ab: cb = ba: ad: bd = cb: bd: cd

(ad+cd)/cb=cb/cd

we have cb=6, ad=5 and seek x=cd.

we reject the negative root and conclude x=4

answer: 4