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The length of a rectangle is 4 m longer than its width. if the perimeter of the rectangle is 36 m , find its area.

User Abdul Ahad
by
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1 Answer

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Answer: The area of the rectangle is: " 77 m² " .

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Note: The formula for the area, "A" of a rectangle:

→ A = L * w ;

in which:
A = "area (of rectangle)" ; [in units of "m² " ; that is: "square meters" ] ;

L = length = "(4 + w)" {in units of "meters (m)" } ;

w = width {in units of "meters (m)" } ;
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So; " A = L * w " ;

Substitute the known expression for the "length, L" ; & rewrite the formula for the given area of OUR area for the rectangle in OUR GIVEN PROBLEM:

→ A = (4 + w) * w '' ;
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Note the formula for the perimeter, "P" ;

→ P = 2L + 2w ;

↔ 2L + 2w = P

→ 2L + 2w = 36 m ;
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We want to find the "area" , "A" :
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Using the formula for the "perimeter, "P" (of the rectangle) ; & given that the perimeter is: "36" (meters) ;

→ 2L + 2w = 36 ;

→ Let us plug in the values for "Length (L)" & "width (w)" ;

→ 2(w + 4) + 2w = 36 ;

So; (2*w) + (2*4) + 2w = 36 ; Solve for "w" ;

→ 2w + 8 + 2w = 36 ;

→ Combine the "like terms" :

+ 2w + 2w = 4w ;

→ And rewrite:

4w + 8 = 36 ;

Now, subtract "8" from EACH SIDE of the equation:

4w + 8 − 8 = 36 − 8 ;

to get:

4w = 28 ;

Now, divide EACH SIDE of the equation by "4" ;
to isolate "w" on EACH SIDE of the equation ; & to solve for "w" ;

4w / 4 = 28 / 4 ;

w = 7 ; → The "width" of the rectangle is: " 7 m " .

Now, we can find the "length" of the rectangle:

The length, "L" , of the rectangle = 4 + w = 4 + 7 = 11 .

L = 11 . → The "length" of the rectangle is: " 11 m " .
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Now, we can find the area, "A", of the rectangle.

A = L * w = 11 m * 7 m = " 77 m² " .

The area of the rectangle is: " 77 m² " .
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To check our answer:
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" P = 2L + 2w " ;

Given that "P = 36 m" ;

Plug in "36 m" (for "P") ; into the equation ;

and plug in our calculated values for
"length, L" (which is "11 m") ; & "width, w" (which is "7 m") ;

to see if the equation holds true ; that is, to see if both sides of the equation are equal ;
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→ 36 m = ? 2L + 2w ?? ;

→ 36 m = ? 2(11 m) + 2(7 m) ?? ;

→ 36 m = ? 22 m + 14 m ?? ;

→ 36 m = ? 36 m ? Yes!
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User Shreedhar Kotekar
by
8.3k points

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