Problema Solution

Consider a square and a regular pentagon. One side of the square is four feet longer than a side of the pentagon, and the two figures have the same perimeter. What are the lengths of the sides of each figure?

Answer provided by our tutors

let


a = the length of the side of the square

b = the length of the side of the pentagon


One side of the square is four feet longer than a side of the pentagon


a = 4 + b


the two figures have the same perimeter


4a = 5b


by solving the system of equations


a = 4 + b

4a = 5b


we find


a = 20 ft


b = 16 ft


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the length of the side of the square is 20 ft.

the length of the side of the pentagon is 16 ft.