Answer:
length: 21 cm
width: 16 cm
Explanation:
. A rectangle has two lengths and two widths, or two sides that are vertical (up and down) and two sides that are horizontal (left and right)
. In order to find the perimeter we must add up all four side lengths.
. You can find the perimeter of a rectangle by adding the length and the width then multiplying by 2, because there are two of each side length.
P = 2(l+w)
In the question the perimeter is given, which is 74.
We can divide 74 by 2 so that we can find the sum of the length and width.
74/2 = 37
l + w = 37
In the question is states that the length is 5 inches longer than the width.
l = (5 + w)
There are two widths and two lengths in a rectangle, the measurement of the two lengths is 5 inches longer than the two widths.
5 + w + w = 37
5 + 2w = 37
Now that we have our equation we can solve for w, or the width.
1. Move the term containing the variable to the left
5 + 2w = 37
2w + 5 = 37
2. Subtract 5 from both sides of the equation, the opposite of adding 5
2w + 5 = 37
2w + 5 - 5 = 37 - 5
2w = 32
3. Divide by 2 in both sides of the equation, the opposite of multiplying 2
2w = 32
2w/2 = 32/2
4. Cancel out the 2s on the left, but leave the x
2w/2 = 32/2
w = 16
So, now that w, or the width = 16, we can find the length:
l = 5 + w
l = 5 + 16
l = 21
You can check your answer by plugging in our values into the original perimeter formula:
P = 2(l+w)
P = 2(21 + 16)
P = 2(37)
P = 74, so my answer is correct, because 74 is the perimeter given in the question.