SOLUTION: the perimeter of a rectangle is 66 ft. the width is 15 ft less than 1/2 the length. find the dimensions of the figure. i am helping my niece with her homework and haven't done a

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Geometry -> SOLUTION: the perimeter of a rectangle is 66 ft. the width is 15 ft less than 1/2 the length. find the dimensions of the figure. i am helping my niece with her homework and haven't done a      Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


    

Question 165358: the perimeter of a rectangle is 66 ft. the width is 15 ft less than 1/2 the length. find the dimensions of the figure.
i am helping my niece with her homework and haven't done algebra or geometry in forever. i viewed the list of solved problems and found 2 that are similar. i got as far as p=2w+2l, 66=30-? instead of +?...and then i'm stuck because of the fraction too. thanks, jeho
textbook: algebra2 with geometry
Answer by Mathtut(3670) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
yes, P=2L+2W or 2(L+W) using the distribution laws. so we know that P=66ft and W=1/2L-15 lets substitute our known facts into our original equation so
66=2(L+1/2L-15) combining and distributing the right side we have 66=3L-30
add 30 and divide by 3 to both sides and we arrive at L=32 W=1/2(32)-15 which equals 1
so W=1 and L=32......now thats a skinny rectangle....lol