Question 166487
    The perimeter of a rectangle is 46m. If the width were doubled and the length were increased by 6 m, the perimeter would be 70 m. What are the length and width of the rectangle?
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Let x = width
and y = length
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Since we have two unknowns, we'll need two equations.
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perimeter of any rectangle = 2(width + length)
2(x+y) = 46 
2x+2y = 46  (equation 1)
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2(2x + y+6) = 70 
4x+2y+12 = 70
4x+2y = 58 (equation 2)
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Using the "elimination method" we subtract equation 1 from 2:
4x+2y = 58
-2x-2y = -46
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2x = 12
x = 6 m
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Substitute the above into equation 1 and solve for y:
2x+2y = 46
2(6)+2y = 46
12+2y = 46
2y = 34
y = 17 m
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solution:
width is 6 m
length is 17 m