The perimeter of a standard-sized rectangular rug is 28 ft. The length is 2 ft longer than the width. How do you find the dimensions. What is the width?

Question

5610 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2016-11-28T03:56:27

The dimensions are 6 feet by 8 feet and the width is 6 feet.

The formula for the perimeter of a rectangle is:

#p = 2*w + 2l# where #p# is the perimeter, #w# is the width and #l# is the length.

We are told the length is 2 ft longer than the width. So, we can write this as:

#l = w + 2#

We are also given the perimeter or #p#.

So substituting #28# for #p# and #w + 2# for #l# we can rewrite this formula as follows and solve for #w# while keeping the equation balanced:

#28 = 2*w + 2*(w + 2)#

#28 = 2w + 2w + 4#

#28 = 4w + 4#

#28 - 4 = 4w + 4 - 4#

#24 = 4w#

#24/4 = (4w)/4#

#w = 6#

We can number substitute #6W for #w# in the equation for #l# to determine the length:

#l = 6 + 2#

#l = 8#