Final answer:
The length of the ICU ward is found by first setting up the equation for the perimeter of a rectangle with the provided perimeter and the relationship between length and width. After simplifying, the length is determined to be 87 feet.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the length of the ICU ward, we need to use the given perimeter of the rectangular ward, which is 274 feet, and the relationship between the length and the width, where the width is 37 feet less than the length.
Let L represent the length of the ward. Therefore, the width can be represented as L - 37 feet. The formula for the perimeter P of a rectangle is P = 2L + 2W, where L is the length and W is the width. Substituting the given perimeter and the relationship between length and width into the formula, we have:
274 = 2L + 2(L - 37).
Simplifying this equation:
274 = 2L + 2L - 74,
274 = 4L - 74,
348 = 4L,
L = 87 feet.
So, the length of the ICU ward is 87 feet.