the perimter of a rectangle is 20inches and its area is 16 square inches. Find the dimensions of the rectangle. I need help to set up the problem

Answer 1

Let the length be x and the width be y

2x + 2y = 20
x+y = 10
y = 10-x

also xy = 16
x(10-x) = 16
10x - x^2 = 16
x^2 - 10x + 16 = 0
(x-2)(x-8) = 0
x = 2 or x=8

if x=2 , then y = 8
if x = 8 , then y = 2

The rectangle is 2 by 8 (or 8 by 2 , the same thing)