Question

The length of a rectangle is four more than its width. DRAW YOUR RECTANGLE ON YOUR SCRATCH PAPER.

If the PERIMETER is 72 meters, find the length and width of the rectangle.

Answer 1

Let x = width

Length = x + 4

Perimeter = 2(x + 4) + 2x

72 = 2(x + 4) + 2x

72 = 4x + 8

64 = 4x

x = 16

Width = 16

Length = 16 + 4 = 20

Answer 2

length = 20 meters

width = 16 meters

Explanation:

`72 = 2(a+b)`

`a = b-4`

`a = \text{width}`

`b = \text{length}`

then:

`72 = 2((b-4)+b)`

`72/2 = b-4+b`

`36 = 2b - 4`

`36 + 4 = 2b`

`40 = 2b`

`b = 40/2`

`b = 20`

`a = b - 4`

`a = 20 - 4`

`a = 16`

Check:

`72 = 2(20+16)`

`72 = 2*36`