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| Question 266830:  the perimetere of a rectangle is 20 in and the area is 16sq in. find the diminsions
 Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)
      (Show Source): 
You can put this solution on YOUR website! the perimeter of a rectangle is 20 in 2L + 2W = 20
 Simplify, divide by 2
 L + W = 10
 W = (10-L); this form for substitution
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 and the area is 16sq in.
 L * W = 16
 Replace W with (10-L)
 L * (10-L) = 16
 -L^2 + 10L - 16 = 0; our old friend, the quadratic equation
 Multiply by -1, change the signs, makes it easier to factor
 L^2 - 10L + 16 = 0
 Factor
 (L-8)(L-2) = 0
 Two solutions
 L = 8; then W = 2
 L = 2: then W = 8
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 Check solution in perimeter equation
 2(8) + 2(2) = 20
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 find the dimensions: 8 in by 2 in
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