What is the width?

Question

A sign shaped like a rectangal was put up.  It had a length of 27 feet and a perimeter of 103 feet. What was the sign's width?

Answer 1

Let w = the sign's width

 

P = 2L + 2w

103 = 2(27) + 2w

103 = 54 + 2w     Subtract 54 from both sides

-54 = -54

 49 = 2w             Divide both sides by 2

 

24.5 feet = w

Answer 2

The perimeter of a rectangle is equal to the sum of all the sides. Since the length is given, you have the measurement of two of the sides. If x is the width and y is length, then:

 

2x + 2y = 103

 

Since we know the length, plug it in for y:

 

2x + 2(27) = 103

 

Then solve for x to find the width:

 

2x + 54 = 103

2x = 49

x = 24.5

 

You can check the answer by plugging x and y back into the original equation:

 

2(24.5) + 2(27) = 103