Question

The length of a rectangle is 5 inches longer than it is wide. If the perimeter is 38 inches, what are the dimensions of the rectangle?

The width, or shorter side is ______
inches.

The length, or longer side is _____
inches.

Answer 1

shorter side = 7 in

longer side = 12 in

Explanation:

Let w = width

then w + 5 = length

The perimeter of the rectangle = 2 widths + 2 lengths.

So, w + w + w + 5 + w + 5 = 38 or 2w +2(w + 5) = 38 are two ways to write the equation to solve the problem.

Now 4w + 10 = 38

4w = 28

w = 7

w + 5 = 7 + 5 = 12

shorter side = 7 in

longer side = 12 in

Check: 7 + 7 + 12 + 12 = 38 = perimeter