SOLUTION: The length of a rectangle is 8 in. more than its width. The perimeter of the rectangle is 24 in. what are the width and length of the rectangle?

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Question 665788: The length of a rectangle is 8 in. more than its width. The perimeter of the rectangle is 24 in. what are the width and length of the rectangle?
Answer by Shana-D77(132) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
We only need one formula here, and some creative thinking...
Perimeter of a rectangle = 2L + 2W
Now we need to translate:
"The length (L)of a rectangle is(=) 8 in. more than(+8) its width(W)" so,
L = W + 2


Now, we are told that the perimeter is 24, so,
24 + 2L + 2W
And we built the equation "L = W + 8", so we can substitute in "W + 8" for L:
24 = 2L + 2W
24 = 2(W + 8) + 2W
24 = 2W + 16 + 2w (distributed the 2)
8 = 4W (suntracted 16 from both sides and combined the two 2Ws)
W= 2 (divided both sides by 2)
If W = 2, and L = W + 8, then L = 10.
CHECK:
"The perimeter of the rectangle is 24."
P = 2W + 2L
24 = 2(2) + 2(10)
24 = 4 + 20 YES.
So,
W = 2 and L = 10