document.write( "Question 249152: the length of a rectangle is 2 feet more than the width. the perimeter of the rectangle is 20 feet. find the length \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #181516 by actuary(112) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let l = the length of the rectangle.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Let w = the width of the rectangle.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "l = 2 + w.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The perimeter of rectangle is 2*length + 2*width and in this problem the perimeter is 20. \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Putting this information into an algebraic equation, you have 2*l+2*w = 20. Now you know that l = 2 + w so you can substitue this expression for \"l\" into the equation for the perimeter. This gives you, 2*(2+w)+2*w=20.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Use the Distributive Property to simplify the equation so you now have\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "4+2*w+2*w=20. Combining like terms, you have 4+4*w=20. Since 4 is a factor of each term in the equation, you can divide each term of the equation by 4 and you now have 1 + w = 5. Subtract 1 from each side of the equation and you have w=4. Since l = 2+w, l=6.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Therefore the width of the rectangle is 4 feet and the length is 6 feet.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Have fun studying math.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Larry \n" ); document.write( "

\n" );