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The perimeter of a rectangular field is 26 yards. The length is 4 more yards than twice the width. Find the length and width of the field.

A. Length = 8 yards; Width = 4 yards
B. Length = 10 yards; Width = 3 yards
C. Length = 13 yards; Width = 9 yards
D. Length = 8.5 yards; Width = 4.5 yards

User Maxoumime
by
6.4k points

1 Answer

2 votes

The formula for perimeter is P = 2length + 2width (P = 2L + 2W)

You know that the length is 4 more yards then twice the width. In equation form this would be:

length = 4 + 2w

Plug what you know into the perimeter formula:

26 = 2(4 + 2w) + 2w

First you must distribute the 2 to the numbers inside the parentheses, which would be 4 and 2w...

26 = (2 * 4) + (2 * 2w) + 2w

26 = 8 + 4w + 2w

Now you must combine like terms. This means that first numbers with the same variables (w) must be combined...

26 = 8 + 4w + 2w

4w + 2w = 6w

26 = 8 + 6w

Now bring 8 to the left side by subtracting 8 to both sides (what you do on one side you must do to the other). Since 8 is being added on the right side, subtraction (the opposite of addition) will cancel it out (make it zero) from the right side and bring it over to the left side.

26 - 8 = 8 - 8 + 6w

18 = 0 + 6w

18 = 6w

To isolate w divide 6 to both sides

18 / 6 = 6w / 6

w = 3

We know that the width is 3 ft

Now you must find the length. To do this plug 3 where you see w in the equation:

length = 4 + 2w

l = 4 + 2(3)

l = 4 + 6

l = 10

We know that length is 10 ft

Letter B. is the correct answer

Hope this helped!

~Just a girl in love with Shawn Mendes

User Mooseman
by
6.1k points
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