Question 638398
The perimeter of a rectangle is length+length+width+width, or 2L+2W.  The length is 36 inches greater than the width, so L=W+36.  In our first equation (2L+2W), replace the L with W+36.  So, 2(W+36)+2W=360.  Using the distributive property, multiply 2 by what's in the parenthesis: 2W+2*36 = 2W+72.  So, our equation looks like this:

2W+72+2W=360

Add 2W and 2W together

4W+72=360

We want to get W by itself on the left side of the equal sign, so to do that, first subtract both sides of the equal sign by 72:

4W+72-72=360-72

This gives us

4W=288

Now, divide both sides by 4, which will get rid of the 4 on the left side and leave us with W:

W=288/4

Divide 288 by 4:

W=72

So, our width is 72 inches

To determine our length, substitute 72 for W in the equation L=W+36:

L=72+36

Therefore, L = 108, which is our length.

To verify, replace the L and W in the formula for the perimeter of a rectangle, with 108 and 72.  If that answer = 360, then the length and width are correct:

2(108)+2(72) =

216+144 = 

360

So, our length and width are correct

Final Answer:  Length - 108 inches
               Width  - 72 inches