The length of a rectangular piece of steel in a bridge is 5 meters less than double the width. The perimeter of the piece of steel is 38 meters. Find the length of the piece of steel. Find the width of the piece of steel.

Answer 1

L = 2W - 5
P = 38 = 2L + 2W

Now we have 2 equations we can solve for each variable.

2L + 2W = 38
2(2W-5) + 2(W) = 38
4W-10+2W = 38
6W = 48
W = 8

L = 2W-5
L = 2(8)-5 = 11

Width - 8m
Length - 11m