Question

You will use 220ft of fencing to fence a rectangular plot of land. The length is 20 more than the width. What are the dimensions of the rectangular plot? (Withyour work?)

Answer 1

Set up the following equations:

$L + W = 110$
$L - W = 20$

110 represents the lengths of the length and width of the triangle, as you'll divide total perimeter of the rectangle, 220, by 2 to find the individual lengths. 20 is the difference between the length and width.

We'll use elimination for this system of equations, as there are opposite coefficients for W in both equations. Combine the two equations:

$2L = 130$

Divide both sides by 2 to get L by itself:

$L = 65$

The length of the rectangle is 65 feet.

Plug this value into the second equation:

$65 - W = 20$

Add W to both sides:

$65 = 20 + W$

Subtract 20 from both sides:

$45 = W$

The width of the rectangle is 45 feet.