Let x = the width of the smaller rectangle.Â
The length of the smaller rectangle is 2x - 1.Â
Area is A = lwÂ
So the area of the smaller rectangle is A = (x)(2x - 1) = 2x^2 - xÂ
The larger rectangle's width is two inches more than the width of the smaller rectangle (x+2).Â
The larger rectangle's length is two inches more than the length of the smaller rectangle:Â
2x - 1 + 2 = 2x + 1Â
Area is A = lwÂ
The area of the larger rectangle is A = (x + 2)(2x + 1) = 2x^2 + x + 4x + 2 = 2x^2 + 5x + 2.Â
The area of the larger rectangle minus the area of the smaller rectangle is 86:Â
(2x^2 + 5x + 2) - (2x^2 - x) = 86Â
Rewrite as adding the opposite:Â
(2x^2 + 5x + 2) + (-2x^2 + x) = 86Â
Combine like terms:Â
6x + 2 = 86Â
6x = 84Â
x = 14Â
The area of the smaller rectangle was 2x^2 - x, soÂ
2(14)^2 - (14)Â
2(196) - 14Â
392 - 14Â
378Â
The area of the smaller rectangle is 378 square inches.