Question

A rectangular goat pen has an area of 40 square meters. Its perimeter is 26 meters. What are the dimensions of the pen?

Answer 1

Area equals length times width
A=l*w
40=l*w
Perimeter equals two times the length plus two times the width
P=2l+2w
26=2l+2w


Let's start with area. If we know all the factors, we can guess and check.
8*5=40 4*10=40 2*20=40 1*40=40

Let's try substituting 8 and 5 in to the perimeter.
26=2(8)+2(5)
26=16+10
26=26

So, the dimensions of the pen are 8 by 5.

Answer 2

Length=8
Width=5
8*5=40(area)
8+8+5+5=26(Perimeter)