Final answer:
To calculate the perimeter of the rectangle, first find the length by dividing the area by the width, then use the length and width to determine the perimeter, resulting in a perimeter of 36 inches.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the perimeter of a rectangle when given the area and the width, first determine the length of the rectangle. The area of a rectangle is calculated by multiplying its length by its width. Since the area is 72 square inches and the width is 6 inches, the length can be found using the formula:
Area = Length × Width
72 square inches = Length × 6 inches
Next, divide the area by the width to find the length:
Length = 72 square inches ÷ 6 inches = 12 inches
Now that we have both the length (12 inches) and the width (6 inches), we can calculate the perimeter of the rectangle. The perimeter (P) is the sum of all sides:
P = 2 × (Length + Width)
P = 2 × (12 inches + 6 inches)
P = 2 × 18 inches
P = 36 inches
Therefore, the perimeter of the rectangle is 36 inches.