Question

The perimeter of a rectangle is 20 inches.The length is 2 inches less than twice the width.

Find the width and length.

Answer 1

width = 6

length = 4

Explanation:

perimeter = 2L + 2W

L = W - 2

plug in perimeter:

20 = 2L + 2W

you know the length is 2 less than the width

plug in (w - 2) for L:

20 = 2(w - 2) + 2w

solve for w:

20 = 2w - 4 + 2w

20 = 4w - 4

4w = 24

w = 6

now plug in 6 for w in either equation, whichever is easier to solve:

L = 6 - 2

L = 4

width = 6

length = 4