SOLUTION: A rectangular Persian carpet has a perimeter of 184 inches. The length of the carpet is 20 inches more than the width. What are the dimensions of the carpet?

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Question 405209: A rectangular Persian carpet has a perimeter of 184 inches. The length of the carpet is 20 inches more than the width. What are the dimensions of the carpet?
Answer by Jstrasner(112) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Hey,
So first the perimeter of a rectangle is 2L (length) + 2W (width)
Therefore:
2L + 2W = 184
Also:
L = W + 20
We can substitute W + 2 for L in the first equation:
2(W + 20) + 2W = 184 => 2W + 40 + 2W = 184 => 4W + 40 = 184
We subtract 40 from both sides: 4W = 144
Then we divide both sides by 4: W = 36
Then we plug this in to the other equation: L = 36 + 20 = 56
Therefore:
Width = 36
Length = 56
I hope this helps!