SOLUTION: One side of the rectangle exceeds three times the other side by 2 centimeters. Find the length of the sides if the perimeter is 52 centimeters.

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Question 1086586: One side of the rectangle exceeds three times the other side by 2 centimeters. Find the length of the sides if the perimeter is 52 centimeters.
Answer by MathLover1(20849) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
let one side of the rectangle be a and the other side b
if one side of the rectangle exceeds three times the other side by 2+ centimeters, we have
a=3b%2B2.....eq.1

if the perimeter is 52 centimeters, we have:
2a%2B2b=52...both sides divide by 2
a%2Bb=26.......eq.2...substitute a from eq.1

3b%2B2%2Bb=26......solve for b
4b=26-2
4b=24
b=24%2F4
b=6
find a

a=3b%2B2.....eq.1
a=3%2A6%2B2
a=18%2B2
a=20

so, the length of the sides are 20 and 6