The total area of a rectangle is 40 squared cm. The length is 4cm, with a width of 6.1cm + Y. X is 6.1cm + Y. What is the length of Y?

Question

Sorry if I didn't describe it that well, is there a way I can take a picture?

Answer 1

Let's attempt to solve this problem...

 

     L=4cm

 ------------------

|                    |

|  A=40cm²  |  W=x=(6.1+y)cm

|                    |

 ------------------

 

    A=LxW............area of rectangle

   40=4(6.1+y)....substitute for "A, L, W"

   40=24.4+4y.....distribute 4 to each term

                             inside parentheses

15.6=4y..............subtract 24.4, both sides

  3.9=y................divide bothe sides by 4

∴  y=3.9.............rewrite order

 

    x=6.1+y..........given

     =6.1+3.9.......substitute for "y"

∴ W=x=10.........simplify

 

Let's check....

  A=LxW

40=4x10.............substitute for "A, L, W"

40=40.................true, √check, our solution

                             is correct

 

Always check your solution and work!

So our rectangle dimensions are 10 cm x 4 cm.

 

Note:

If the diagram side length assignments above do not exactly match your diagram or your description, set up another diagram in a similar fashion.  The step-by-step procedure described above will be similar (procedure:  multiply rectangle side lengths and equate to given area=40cm²).