n three times the width. The perimeter of her garden is 72 are the dimensions of Ashley's garden?

Question

the length of Ashley's garden is 4 meters greater than three times the width. The perimeter of her garden is 72 meters. What are the dimensions of Ashley's garden?

Answer 1

OK. So the dimensions of Ashley's garden (this would be easier to get with a drawing) can be described by

 

L = 3w + 4 (relation between length and width)

 

2L + 2w = 72 (perimeter)

 

There's two equations in two unknowns. And a couple ways to solve that. Here's the one I choose:

 

2L + 2w = 72 (perimeter)
2L - 6w = 8 (relation between length and width, times 2)

 

Subtract the second expression from the first and get

 

8w = 64

 

So w = 8. Substitute 8 for w in either expression above and get

 

L = 28 there you go. Make sure to practice several of these problems to get your speed up before a test. :-)