SOLUTION: A rectangular shaped dance floor has a perimeter of 200 feet. If the floor were 20 feet wider, it's width would equal its length. Find the length and width of the dance floor.

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Question 659113: A rectangular shaped dance floor has a perimeter of 200 feet. If the floor were 20 feet wider, it's width would equal its length. Find the length and width of the dance floor.
I started with this:
p=2l + 2w
I have absolutely no idea where to go from here.
Answer by colliefan(242) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The problem states that if the width was increased by 20, that would equal the length. That gives us information we can use to write expressions to represent the width and length.
Call the width w.
Length must then be w+20
Using your formula for perimeter:
p=2l + 2w
200=2(w+20) + 2w
200=2w+40+2w
200=4w+40
200-40=4w+40-40
160=4w+0
160=4w
1/4*160=4w*1/4
40=w
If the width is 40 feet, the length must then be 40+20 or 60 ft. Check to see if that gives you the perimeter of 200 feet and you will know it is a correct solution.