Final answer:
The width of the tabletop is 52 inches.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the width of the tabletop, let's assume that the width is x inches. According to the problem, the length of the tabletop is 18 inches more than the width, so it would be x + 18 inches. The perimeter of the rectangle is the sum of all its sides, which is twice the sum of the length and width. Therefore, we can write the equation as follows:
2(x + 18 + x) = 244
Simplifying the equation, we get:
4x + 36 = 244
Subtracting 36 from both sides, we have:
4x = 208
Dividing both sides by 4, we find:
x = 52
Therefore, the width of the tabletop is 52 inches.