SOLUTION: The length of a rectangular garden is 3 yd more than twice its width. The perimeter of the garden is 36 yd. what are the width and length of the garden?

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Question 800882: The length of a rectangular garden is 3 yd more than twice its width. The perimeter of the garden is 36 yd. what are the width and length of the garden?
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Typical beginner's rectangle exercise.

w for width
x for length
p for perimeter.

The length of rectangle is 3 units more than twice its width: x=3+2w.

Perimeter is given, p.

2x%2B2w=p and by substitution, 2%283%2B2w%29%2B2w=p.
6%2B4w%2B2w=p
6%2B6w=p
6w=p-6
highlight%28w=%28p-6%29%2F6%29
First solve for w as done, and then use it to compute x.

x=3%2B2w
x=3%2B2%28%28p-6%29%2F6%29
highlight%28x=3%2B%28p-6%29%2F3%29

Observe that both w and x are now solved in terms of p, and p was given as a known value.