Question

The perimeter of a standard-sized rectangular rug is 28 ft. The length is 2 ft longer than the width. How do you find the dimensions. What is the width?

Answer 1

The dimensions are 6 feet by 8 feet and the width is 6 feet.

Explanation:

The formula for the perimeter of a rectangle is:

`p = 2*w + 2l` where `p` is the perimeter, `w` is the width and `l` is the length.

We are told the length is 2 ft longer than the width. So, we can write this as:

`l = w + 2`

We are also given the perimeter or `p`.

So substituting `28` for `p` and `w + 2` for `l` we can rewrite this formula as follows and solve for `w` while keeping the equation balanced:

`28 = 2*w + 2*(w + 2)`

`28 = 2w + 2w + 4`

`28 = 4w + 4`

`28 - 4 = 4w + 4 - 4`

`24 = 4w`

`24/4 = (4w)/4`

`w = 6`

We can number substitute `6W for`w`in the equation for`l# to determine the length:

`l = 6 + 2`

`l = 8`