SOLUTION: Please help me solve this Word problem: The length of a rectangle is 3cm greater than its width. Find its dimensions, if the perimeter of the rectangle is 26cm.

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Question 164518: Please help me solve this Word problem:
The length of a rectangle is 3cm greater than its width. Find its dimensions, if the perimeter of the rectangle is 26cm.
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x=length and y=width



Perimeter: P=2x%2B2y where x and y are the length and width (the order doesn't matter)

Since the "length of a rectangle is 3cm greater than its width" this means that x=y%2B3


P=2x%2B2y Start with the given perimeter formula


26=2%28y%2B3%29%2B2y Plug in P=26 and x=y%2B3


26=2y%2B6%2B2y Distribute


26-6=2y%2B2y Subtract 6 from both sides


20=4y Combine like terms


20%2F4=y Divide both sides by 4 to isolate y


y=5 Reduce and rearrange the equation


x=y%2B3 Go back to the second equation


x=5%2B3 Plug in y=5


x=8 Add


So the solutions are x=8 and y=5 which means that the length is 8 cm and the width is cm.