Question 216594
Width of a rectangle is 5cm shorter than the length. Perimeter is is 290 cm, Find the sides.


Step 1.  Let L be the length of the rectangle.


Step 2.  Let L-5 be the width of the rectangle


Step 3.  Perimeter P means adding all four sides of the rectangle. {{{P=L+L+L-5+L-5=4L-10=290}}}


Step 4.  Solving yields the following steps


{{{P=4L-10=290}}}


Add 10 to both sides of the equation


{{{4L-10+10=290+10}}}


{{{4L=300}}}


Divide 4 to both sides of the equation


{{{4L/4=300/4}}}


{{{L=75}}}  AND {{{L-5=70}}}


Check {{{Perimeter=P=2(75+70)=290}}}...which is a true statement.


Step 5.  ANSWER:  The sides of the rectangle are 75 cm and 70 cm.


I hope the above steps were helpful.


For FREE Step-By-Step videos in Introduction to Algebra, please visit 

http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/IntroAlgebra and for Trigonometry visit 

http://www.FreedomUniversity.TV/courses/Trigonometry.


Good luck in your studies!


Respectfully,
Dr J