SOLUTION: A rectangular prism has a square base. The length of an edge is two times it's width. The sum of the width and the height is the length. The area of the rectangular portion is 288

Algebra ->  Rectangles -> SOLUTION: A rectangular prism has a square base. The length of an edge is two times it's width. The sum of the width and the height is the length. The area of the rectangular portion is 288      Log On


   

Question 983621: A rectangular prism has a square base. The length of an edge is two times it's width. The sum of the width and the height is the length. The area of the rectangular portion is 288ft squared. Whats the sum of all the edges?
Answer by josgarithmetic(39630) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Assign variables and form expressions and equations from the description.

w width
L length
h height

system%28L=2w%2CL=w%2Bh%2CwL=288%29

Notice that the "area...288" is not precise. Description does not tell WHICH surface has this area; there are three different area terms for this prism description. I chose to use the base surface.

Sum of all the edges will be, once the system is solved, 4%2AL%2B4%2Aw%2B4%2Ah.


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The system of equation in w, L, h, try first and last equations to solve for w and L; this will give quadratic equation. Use the value of w and L to find h using the second equation.