Question 624
<b>I'm having some trouble with these problems.  Please Help
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1. The perimeter of a rectangular lot is 222 feet.  if the length is 33 feet
shorter than twice the width, write an equation and then find the length and
width of the lot.
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Let the width be w.  Then to write the expression for the width from the words
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>>...the length is 33 feet shorter than twice the width...<<,
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we begin with the words "twice the width" or 2w, and then we make it 33 feet
shorter by subtracting 33, which gives us 
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length = 2w-33
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` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` 2w-33   
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` ` ` ` ` ` w| ` ` ` ` |w
` ` ` ` ` ` `|_________|
` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` 2w-33
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Perimeter = distance around the rectangle, or
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Perimeter = left side + top side + right side + bottom side, or
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` ` ` 222 = w + (2w-33) + w + (2w-33)
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Can you solve that?  Answer: w = 48, length = 2(48)-33 = 63
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2.  An 18 foot board is cut into three pieces. the second piece is four times as long as the first piece and the third is 2 feet longer than the first piece.  write an equation and then find the lengths of the three pieces.
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Let x = the length of the first piece. Then use the words:
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>>...the second piece is four times as long as the first piece...<<
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to write the expression 4x for the second piece.  Then use the words:
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>>...the third is 2 feet longer than the first piece...<<
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to write the expression for the third piece as x + 2.
`<font face = "courier new">
` ` ` ` ` ` ` x ` ` 4x ` ` x+2           
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Now add these parts up and equate to 18 feet:
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x + 4x + (x+2) = 18
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Solve that and get x = 8/3 or 2 2/3 feet or 2 ft 8 inches.
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So the first part is 2'8", the second is 10'8" feet, and the third is 4'8".
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Edwin <font face = "wingdings" size = 7 color = "red">J</font>