math measurment

Question

joey wants to build a sandbox the perimeter is 400.8 meters and the length is 185.2 meters what is the width

Answer 1

Let's start by solving an easier problem. Andy wants to build a sandbox. The perimeter is 10m, and the length is 3 meters. What is the width?

Key vocabulary: Perimeter is the distance around the outside of an object.

Step 1: Draw a picture and label it

3 m

? ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ?

3m

Step 2: Write your equation

Perimeter is distance around the outside so P = 3 + 3 + ? + ?

In math we use a variable, a letter, rather than a ?

So P = 3 + 3 + x + x

Some people like the Perimeter formula of P = 2(3) + 2x.

P = 3 + 3 + x + x is equivalent to P = 2(3) + 2x

You can use either one

Step 3: Simplify

P = 3 + 3 + x + x

P = 6 + 2x

Step 4: Substitute

Since you know P = 10 you can substitute 10 for P

P = 6 + 2x

10 = 6 + 2x

Step 5: Solve for x

10 = 6 + 2x

This is a two step equation. Think of order of operations backwards. Normally in order of operations we do addition or subtraction last. But when solving for x, we go backwards so we will undo addition or subtraction first.

10 = 6 + 2x

-6 - 6

4 = 2x

2 2

2 = x

Step 6: Check

P = 10

3 + 3 + 2 + 2 = 10

10 = 10 ✔︎

See if you can follow these steps to solve the problem on your own. Please post again if you have more questions!

Answer 2

Joey wants to build a sandbox the perimeter is 400.8 meters and the length is 185.2 meters what is the width

Detailed Solution:

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P = Perimeter, L = Length, W = Width

Given: P = 400.8, L = 185.2, W = ??

P = 2L + 2W ==> 400.8 = 2(185.2) + 2W ==> 2W = 400.8 - 2(185.2) ==> 2W = 400.8 – 370.4 ==> 2W = 30.4 ==> W = 15.2

W = 15.2 (The width of sandbox)

Check your answer: W = 15.2

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P = 2L + 2W ==> 400.8 = 2(185.2) + 2(15.2) ==> 400.8 = (370.4) + (30.4) ==> 400.8 = 400.8