SOLUTION: how do you set up the word problem... "The perimeter of a rectangle is 48 cm. One side is four fifths the length of the other side. Find the dimensions of the rectangle"

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Question 577805: how do you set up the word problem... "The perimeter of a rectangle is 48 cm. One side is four fifths the length of the other side. Find the dimensions of the rectangle"
Answer by dfrazzetto(283) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Well we know a rectangle has a length (L) and width (W), so the perimeter is just the two lengths plus the 2 widths so:
Perimeter = 2L + 2W = 48 cm
One side (let's use width, W, is 4/5 the length of the other side (L), so:
W= (4/5)*L= 4L/5
Plugging back into our original equation and solving for L (substituting 4L/5 for W):
P = 2L + 2(4L/5) = 48
2L + 8L/5 = 48
10L/5 + 8L/5 = 48
18L/5=48
18L = 48*5
18L = 240
L= 13 1/3 cm
W= 4L/5 = 4(13 1/3)/5 = 10 2/3 cm
So, Dimensions of rectangle are L x W = 13 1/3 cm x 10 2/3 cm
To check:
P = 2L + 2W = 2(L+W) = 2(13 1/3 + 10 2/3) = 2(24) = 48, ANSWER IS CORRECT