Let the width of the rectangular field be x. Then, the length would be x + 0.4 m.
The original perimeter of the rectangle would be:
P = 2 (x) + 2 (x + 0.4) = 4x + 0.8
We know that the perimeter increased by 1/4 of its original value, so:
P' = P + P/4 = 4x + 0.8 + (4x + 0.8)/4 = 4x + 0.8 + x + 0.2 = 5x + 1
So, the new perimeter is 5x + 1 m.
We also know that the width of the rectangle was reduced by 0.5 m, so the new width is x - 0.5 m. And the new length was increased, but we don't know by how much, so let's call that increase ΔL.
The new perimeter would be:
P' = 2 (x - 0.5) + 2 (x + ΔL + 0.4) = 4x + 2ΔL - 1
So, equating the two expressions for P' that we derived above:
5x + 1 = 4x + 2ΔL - 1
Solving for ΔL, we get:
ΔL = (5x + 2 - 4x)/2 = (x + 2)/2 = (6 + 2)/2 = 4 m
So, the change in the length of the rectangle is 4 m.