Question

The primeter of a rectangle is 53 meters. The length is 2.3 meters longer than the width, w. Write and solve an equation to ind the width of the rectangle.

Answer 1

The perimeter is the total of adding all of the sides together. A rectangle has 2 lengths and 2 widths. The equation would be:

P = 2l + 2w or P = l + l + w + w

Since you know the perimeter, you can plug it into the equation

53 = 2l + 2w

You can divide the 2 on both sides

26.5 = l + w

l = w + 2.3 because the length is 2.3 meters longer/more than the width. You can substitute (w + 2.3) for "l" in the equation. So instead of:

26.5 = l + w

It will be:

26.5 = (w + 2.3) + w

26.5 = w + 2.3 + w

Subtract 2.3 on both sides

24.3 = w + w

24.3 = 2w

Divide 2 on both sides

12.1 = w

The width is 12.1 meters