Problema Solution

The length of a rectangle is twice as great as its width. When both the width and length are increased by 5 inches, the new rectangle has a perimeter of 80 inches. Write an equation to find the length and width of the original rectangle. What are the length and width?

Answer provided by our tutors

Let

l = the length of the original rectangle

l + 5 = the length of the new rectangle

w = the length of the original rectangle

w + 5 = the width of the new rctangle

The length of a rectangle is twice as great as its width:

l = 2w

The perimeter of the new rectangle is: 2(l + 5 + w + 5) = 2(l + w + 10)

The new rectangle has a perimeter of 80 inches:

2(l + w + 10) = 80

We have the following system of equations:

l = 2w

2(l + w + 10) = 80

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click here to see the system of equations solved for l and w

........

l = 20 in

w = 10 in

The length of the original rectangle is 20 inches.

The width of the original rectangle is 10 inches.