Question 668264
The perimeter of a rectangle is 20 ft. The length is 6ft longer than the width. Find the dimensions. Write a system of linear equations and solve the resulting system. Let x be the length and y be the width. I also need to have this information--> Write the first equation 2x+2y=? Write the second equation x=y+? What is the length and what is the width. Thanks for your help.


Length = x; y = width


2x + 2y = 20, since twice length, plus twice width = perimeter
2(x + y) = 2(10) ----- x + y = 10 ---- eq (i)


x = y + 6, since length is 6 ft longer than width
x - y = 6 ----- eq (ii)


Elimination method:
x + y = 10 ------- eq (i)
x - y = 6 -------- eq (ii)
2x = 16 ----- Adding eqs (ii) & (i)
x, or length = {{{16/2}}}, or {{{highlight_green(8)}}} ft


8 + y = 10 ---- Substituting 8 for x in eq (i)
y = 10 - 8


y, or width = {{{highlight_green(2)}}} ft


OR


2x + 2y = 20, since twice length, plus twice width = perimeter ---- eq (i)
x = y + 6, since length is 6 ft longer than width ---- eq (ii)


Substitution method:
2(y + 6) + 2y = 20 ------- Substituting y + 6 for x in eq (i)
2y + 12 + 2y = 20
4y = 8
y, or width = {{{8/4}}}, or {{{highlight_green(2)}}} ft


x = 2 + 6 ---- Substituting 2 for y in eq (ii)
x, or length = {{{highlight_green(8)}}} ft


You can do the check!!


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