SOLUTION: The problem reads: A rectangle is 5 feet longer than it is wide. The perimeter of the rectangle is 34 feet. What is the length of the rectangle? any help would be appreicia

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Question 131825: The problem reads:
A rectangle is 5 feet longer than it is wide. The perimeter of the rectangle is 34 feet. What is the length of the rectangle?

any help would be appreiciated
Answer by ntnk(54) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Start by actually writing out every equation that you can deduce from the problem statement.
"A rectangle is 5 feet longer than it is wide."
L+=+5+%2B+W
"The perimeter of the rectangle is 34 feet."
2L+%2B+2W+=+34
What is the length of the rectangle?
L = ?
Substitute the first equation into the second equation, obtaining:
2%285%2BW%29+%2B+2W+=+34
Distributing: 10%2B2W+%2B+2W+=+34
Combining like terms: 10+%2B+4W+=+34
Subtracting 10 from both sides: 4W+=+24
Dividing both sides by 4: W+=+6
If W = 6, then L = 11 since L+=+5+%2B+W as stated earlier.
-ntnk