Question

The perimeter of a rectangle is 38 cm. The length is 5 cm less than twice the width. Find the length and the width.

Answer 1

length = 11 , width = 18

Explanation:

Begin by letting x represent the width.

then double the width = 2x and 5 less than this = 2x-5

meaning the length is 2x - 5

now perimeter = 2x width + 2 x length

therefore 2x + 2(2x - 5) = 38

so 2x + 4x - 10 = 38

⇒ 6l = 38 + 10 = 48 ⇒ l = 8

width = x = 8cm and length = 2x - 5 = 16 - 5 = 11cm

check check: ( 2 x 8 ) + ( 2 x 11 ) = 16 + 22 = 38