---------------------------------- Define x : ---------------------------------- Let the width be x. Width = x Length = 2x + 5 // Length is 5ft longer than twice the width
---------------------------------- Formula for Perimeter : ---------------------------------- Perimeter = 2 (Length + Width)
---------------------------------- Find Width : ---------------------------------- 58 = 2 ( 2x + 5 + x) // Substitute Length and Width into formula 58 = 2 (3x + 5) // Combine like terms 58 = 6x + 10 // Apply distributive property 48 = 6x // Take away 10 from both sides 6x = 48 // Switch sides. Make x the subject x = 8 // Divide by 6 on both sides
---------------------------------- Find Length and Width : ---------------------------------- Width = x = 8 ft Length = 2x + 5 = 2(8) + 5 = 21 ft
-------------------------------------------------------------------- Answer: The length is 21 ft and the width is 8 ft. --------------------------------------------------------------------
Division is repeated subtraction, just like multiplication is repeated addition. If you divide 50 by 10, you get 5. This is also the question: How many times do you have to subtract 10 from 50 to get 0?
