SOLUTION: I need to know if I did this correct? Algebra (perimeter) Dale Mayfield has decided to fence off a garden plot behind his house, using his house as the "fence" along one side o

Algebra.Com
Question 753920: I need to know if I did this correct?
Algebra (perimeter)
Dale Mayfield has decided to fence off a garden plot behind his house, using his house as the "fence" along one side of the garden. The length (Parallel to house) is 3 feet less than twice the width. Find the dimensions if 33 feet of fencing is used along the three sides requiring it.
I got width=39/6
length=10
I took 33=2(2w-3)+2w
Is this correct
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, Edwin McCravy:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39618)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
x=length and w=width

three feet less than twice the width.

Fencing used is


width

Finding value for x:


length

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20056)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Sorry, what you have is NOT correct. You tried to use the 
perimeter of a rectangle formula P = 2L + 2W.  But that 
particular perimeter formula is only good when there are 
FOUR sides of fencing, not when there are only THREE sides 
of fencing, as this problem states: 

      ___HOUSE, NO FENCE__
        |              | 
       W|              |W 
        |______________|
             2W-3

So you must use this 
formula instead:

LEFT SIDE + FRONT SIDE + RIGHT SIDE = TOTAL LENGTH OF FENCE
    ↓           ↓            ↓               ↓
    W     +   2W-3     +     W      =       33 

Answer:  W = 9 feet,  Length = 2W+3 = 2(9)+3 = 18+3 = 21 feet        

Edwin
RELATED QUESTIONS

2 LINEAR EQUATIONS IN 2 UNKNOWNS or SIMULTANEOUS LINEAR EQUATIONS IN 2 UKNOWNS... (answered by josgarithmetic)
A farmer has a rectangular garden plot surrounded by 230 ft of fence. If its area is 2250 (answered by xinxin)
Antoine and his brother are going to put a fence around his mother's flower garden in... (answered by jorel1380,MathTherapy)
Mr.Duarte's garden is 12 ft wide and 24 ft long. What is the area of his garden? If he... (answered by harpazo)
I am giving my garden a makeover this weekend. I need to buy 36m2 of turf and 40m of... (answered by ewatrrr)
Robert wants to build a fence around his perfectly square garden. If the area of the... (answered by richwmiller)
Please help me solve: A landscaper wants to enclose a rectangle garden with a fence.... (answered by checkley77)
A rectangular plot, 16 ft by 15 ft, is to be used for a garden. It is decided to put a... (answered by MathLover1,josmiceli)