Find the dimensions of a rectangle with a perimeter of 62 cm if the length is 5 cm less than three times the width

Answer 1

Let's use the variable w to present the width.

Since the length is "5 cm less than three times the width", we can write the following

expression for the length: 3w - 5

Now using the perimeter of 62 cm and recalling that perimeter is: P = 2 * length + 2 * width:

62 = 2(3w - 5 ) + 2(w)

We can solve this equation for w using the distributive property and inverse operations:

62 = 6w - 10 + 2w

62 = 8w - 10

62 + 10 = 8w - 10 + 10

72 = 8w

72/8 = 8w/8

9 = w

The width will be 9 cm.

The length will be 3w - 5 OR 3 * 9 - 5 = 27 -5 = 22

The length will be 22 cm.

To verify, the perimeter is:

22 + 22 + 9 + 9 = 44 + 18 = 62