Marisol is painting on a piece of canvas that has an area of 180 square inches. The length of the painting is 1 1/4 times the width. What are the...

We are given a rectangular canvas with area 180 square inches with a length 5/4 as long as the width and we are asked to find the dimensions:

Area = length times width, so we let w=width in inches and l=5/4w=length in inches.

Then `w(5/4 w)=180 `

`5/4 w^2=180 `

`w^2=180 * 4/5 `

`w^2=144 `

Since the width must be positive, w=12.

Then `l=5/4 w=5/4 * 12=15 `

The dimensions are 12" by 15"

Check: 12x15=180 as required.