The area of the rectangle to the area of the triangle in the figure is in the ratio 2 : 3. After the shaded rectangle of length 8 cm is removed from the figure, the ratio of the remaining area of the rectangle to the remaining area of the triangle is 3 : 5. Given that the area of the triangle is 48 cm² more than the area of the rectangle, find the width of the shaded rectangle that is being removed.

	Rectangle	Triangle	Difference
Total	2x2 = 4 u	3x2 = 6 u	1x2 = 2 u
Removed	- 1 u	- 1 u
Left	3 u	5 u	2 u

The difference in the areas between the rectangle and the triangle remains unchanged. Make the difference the same. LCM of 1 and 2 is 2.

Difference in areas between the triangle and the rectangle
= 6 u - 4 u
= 2 u

2 u = 48 

1 u = 48 ÷ 2 = 24

Area of the rectangle that is removed
= 1 u
= 1 x 24
= 24 cm²

Width of the shaded rectangle that is removed
= 24 ÷ 8
= 3 cm

Answer(s): 3 cm