Help! Fiding dimentions from an equation.

[twisted]

I need some help figuring out how to find the dimensions to this question:

A rectangle has perimeter 64cm and area 23cm^2. Solve the following system of equations to find the rectangle's dimensions.

a) l = 23/w
l + w = 32

b) solve the system of equations
x^2 + y^2 = 1
xy = 0.5

Please and thank you! I know the answer, I just don't know how to do the question.

[Mr. Hui]

l = 23/w
l + w = 32

23/w + w = 32
23 + w^2 = 32w
w^2 - 32w + 23 = 0

Use the quadratic formula to solve for w:
w = 31.264 and 0.73566.
l = 1.35930435 and 0.0319852174.

[MAS1]

Originally Posted by twisted

I need some help figuring out how to find the dimensions to this question:

A rectangle has perimeter 64cm and area 23cm^2. Solve the following system of equations to find the rectangle's dimensions.

a) l = 23/w
l + w = 32

b) solve the system of equations
x^2 + y^2 = 1
xy = 0.5

Please and thank you! I know the answer, I just don't know how to do the question.

Since Mr Hui answered part a), I'll try part b).

Since xy = 0.5 then x = 1/(2y)
Substituting for x gives:
(1/(2y))^2 + y^2 = 1
1/(4y^2) + y^2 = 1
(1 + 4y^4)/(4y^2) = 1
1 + 4y^4 = 4y^2
4y^4 - 4y^2 + 1 = 0
y^4 - y^2 + 1/4 = 0
(y^2 - 1/2)(y^2 - 1/2) = 0
y^2 - 1/2 = 0
y^2 = 1/2
y = + or - sqrt(1/2)
x = + or - sqrt(1/2)