Lee wants to cut this piece of canvas into two rectangles that are 3×2 and 3×5. He wants the sum of the two small recyangles to be the same as the area of the large rectangle. Can he do this? Explain the rectangle is 6feet across and 3feet tall

Answer 1

3x2 + 3x5 = 6+15 = 21
8x3 = 18

So, he needs more canvas than he has.

Or, you could line up the two desired pieces, and he needs one large piece 3x(2+5) = 3x7, but his piece is only 3x6.