One side of a rectangle is 2 cm longer than the other. The perimeter of the rectangle (that is, the distance all the way around the edge) is 24cm.

Question

One side of a rectangle is 2 cm longer than the other. The perimeter of the rectangle (that is, the distance all the way around the edge) is 24cm. How long are the sides of the rectangle?

please show all your working out, thank you!!  

Answer 1

Hi Kath;

First side...x

Second side...x+2

The rectangle has four sides, two width and two length.

24=2[x+(x+2)]

24=2(x+x+2)

24=2(2x+2)

24=4x+4

Let's subtract 4 from both sides as we isolate x...

-4+24=4x+4-4

20=4x

Let's divide both sides by 4...

20/4=4x/4

5=x

5+2=x+2

7=x+2

 

Let's check our work...

First side...5

Second side...5+2=7

24=2(5+7)

24=2(12)

24=24