Question

A rectangular exercise mat has a perimeter of 36 feet. The length of the mat is twice the width. Write and solve an equation to determine the length, in feet, of the mat. Then find the area, in square feet, of the mat.

Answer 1

length = 12 feet , area = 72 ft²

Explanation:

the perimeter (P) is the sum of the 4 sides of the rectangle.

let w be width then length is 2w

opposite sides of a rectangle are congruent , so

P = 2(2w) + 2w = 4w + 2w = 6w

given P = 36 , then

6w = 36 ( divide both sides by 6 )

w = 6

then

length = 2w = 2 × 6 = 12 feet

the area (A) of a rectangle is calculated as

A = length × width = 12 × 6 = 72 ft²