The perimeter of a rectangle is 44 meters. The rectangles width is five meters less than its length, what is the area of the rectangle?

Answer 1

Drawing a diagram will help in this problem.

Perimeter is the sum of the measures of the four sides of the rectangle.

The width is 5 meters less than the length. Let x = length. Then x - 5 = width.

So the perimeter is (x) + (x-5) + (x) + (x-5). [The parentheses are not necessary; I just put them to show that I added the four sides.]

You are told the perimeter is 44 meters. So, (x) + (x-5) + (x) + (x-5) = 44.

Simplify the left side of the equation and solve for x.

Then you will know the length (x) and can compute the width (x-5).

[If you need more help simplifying by combining like terms in the equation or help solving for x, just ask. But try it yourself first.]

The next part of the problem asks you to find the area of the rectangle.

To find the area, multiply to find the product of length x width (or base x height).