Question

The perimeter of a rectangle is 53 meters. The length is 2.3 meters longer than the width, w. Write and solve an equation to find the width of the rectangle.
Show your work.

Answer 1

L = 2.3 + W

2W + 2L = P

2W + 2(2.3 + W) = 53

2W + 4.6 + 2W = 53

4W + 4.6 = 53

4W = 48.4

4W/4 = 48.4/4

W = 12.1

Answer 2

Answer:

The width is 12.1 meters.

Step-by-step explanation:

So, we know that the perimeter is 53 meters, and that the length is 2.3 meters longer than the width (length = width + 2.3 meters). The equation for the perimeter of a rectangle is

P = 2(l + w)

where P is the perimeter, l is the length, and w is the width. Lets plug in 53 for P (because the perimeter is 53 meters) and w + 2.3 for l (because the length is 2.3 meters longer than the width) into the equation.

53 = 2(w + 2.3 + w)

This would be the equation to find the width.

Now solve for the width:

53 = 2(w + 2.3 + w)

Distribute the 2

53 = 2w + 4.6 + 2w

Simplify

53 = 4w + 4.6

Subtract 4.6 from both sides.

48.4 = 4w

Divide 4 from both sides.

12.1 = w

w = 12.1

(Remember, the width should be in meters because the length and the perimeter is in meters.)

The width is 12.1 meters.

I hope you find this helpful. :)