Final answer:
The original length of the rectangular field is approximately 2.44 cm.
Step-by-step explanation:
The original length of the rectangular field:
Let's assume the original length of the rectangle is x cm. Since the perimeter of the rectangular field is 32 cm, we can set up the equation:
2x + 2y = 32 (where y is the width of the rectangle)
Now, the problem states that if the length is reduced by 2 cm, the area will increase by 12 cm. This can be represented as:
(x - 2)y = xy + 12
To solve this system of equations, we can substitute the value of y from the first equation into the second equation:
(x - 2)(16 - x) = x(16 - x) + 12
Expanding and simplifying the equation gives us:
Simplifying further:
18x - 32 = 12
18x = 44
x = 44/18
x = 22/9
Therefore, the original length of the rectangular field is approximately 2.44 cm.