The perimeter of a rectangle is 16ft. If the width is 2 feet less than the length, find the width

Question

The perimeter is 16 feet and the width is 2 less than the length, find the width

Answer 1

Hi Jenni -

 

To solve this, you start with the formula for the perimeter of a rectangle, which is:

 

P = 2L + 2W

 

where P is the perimeter

          L is the length

          W is the width

 

For this problem the width is 2 feet less than the length which means

W = L - 2 

 

Because the perimeter P = 16 feet, the formula becomes:

 

16 = 2L + 2(L - 2) 

 

You just need the solve this equation for L and then you can determine the width by subtracting 2 from that value.

Answer 2

Perimeter of Rectangle = 2(length + width)

 

Let's consider

 

length= l

width =w = l-2

 

Perimeter =2 (l + l-2)

 

16 = 2(2l-2)

 

16 = 4l-4

 

20 =4l

 

5 = l

 

So Length=5ft

 

width= w =5-2 =3 ft