Question

A rectangle is 4 inches longer than it is wide. It's perimeter is 28 inches. Write a system of two equations in two variables that describes this information. Then solve the system graphically.

Answer 1

So let the variable x=standard for all four sides of this rectangle, and let the variable w=# of additional inches to length. Let w=4

1. Draw a rectangle

2. label sides of rectangle used for width with "X"

3.Label sides with length(top and bottom), with X+W

4. Put variables into an equation, equaled to the total perimeter(28 inches) {x+w+x+w+x+x=28}

5. Set the number "4"( number of additional inches to the length) in place of w. {x+4+x+4+x+x=28}

6. Combine like terms {x+x+x+x=4x, and 4+4=8.

7. Set up simplified version: 4x+8=28

8. Subtract 8 from both sides to get 'X' alone.{4x=20}

9. Divide both sides by 4 to get 'x' alone. 4x\4==20\4

10. Solve: x=5