Question

A square plywood platform has a perimeter that is 6 times the length of a side, decreased by 6. Find the length of a side. (Recall the formula P = 4s.) a. 5 c. 3 b. 1 d. 2

Answer 1

c. 3

Explanation:

In order to solve this problem you just have to create an equation, you have the formula for perimeter which is 4s, and the perimeter equals 6 times the size decreased by 6. In order to solve this you create the equation each side will be represented by X and that would make the perimeter (6x-6):

P= 4s

(6x-6)=4x

6x-4x=6

2x=6

x=3

So the size of the side would be 3 units.

Answer 2

The platform is square. Let the length of one side be x.
Then the perimeter is P = 6x - 6 = 4x

Then 2x = 6 and x = 3. The side length is 3.

Check: P = 4(3) = 12
P = 6(3)-6 = 12

These agree.