Final answer:
The dimensions of a rectangle with an area of 16 square feet that has the minimum perimeter is a square with side lengths of
feet each, making the dimensions
feet by
feet.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the dimensions of a rectangle with an area of 16 square feet that has the minimum perimeter, we can utilize the properties of rectangles. The rectangle with the smallest perimeter for a given area is a square. This is because the square has equal sides and the sum of its side lengths (perimeter) for a given area is the least compared to any other rectangle with the same area.
The area of a rectangle is calculated using the formula:

Since we are looking for a square:

If the area is 16 square feet, and both sides are equal, we can write:


To find the side length, take the square root of both sides:


Therefore, the dimensions of the square (which is a special case of a rectangle) with an area of
square feet and the minimum perimeter are
feet by
feet.