The area of a playground is 48 square yards. The length of the playground is 3 times longer than its width. Find the length and width of the playground.

Question

The area of a playground is 48 square yards. The length of the playground is 3 times longer than its width. Find the length and width of the playground.

Answer 1

Yas, if the width is w, then the length is 3w, right? 

 

How do we find area? Length x width.

 

w x 3w = 48

      3w² = 48

         w² = 16

           w = 4

 

So, the width is 4 yards and the length is 12 yards.

 

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

OK. Easy peasy.

 

A = LW

 

And L = 3W.

 

So A = 3W^2

 

Since A = 48, that means W = 4 (skipped a step or two there - sorry!)

 

And since L = 3W, L=12.

 

Sanity check: A = LW = 12(4) = 48. You're good to go.

Practice these kinds of problems. This one, if it appears on your test, should be free points. So get to where you don't need to ask for help. :-)