a rectanglular field is enclosed with 1200 feet of fencing.

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dsunflower

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Mar 13, 2009
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a rectanglular field is enclosed with 1200 feet of fencing. If the length is 40 feet longer than the wideth, how long is the field? You don't have to tell me the answer, just direct me in thr right way. Thank you
 


Hi:

This exercise tells us the length of the rectangle in terms of the width ("length is 40 feet longer than the width"), so we can write an expression for the length in terms of the width. Pick a symbol to represent the width.

Let W = the width of the rectangle

Can you now write an expession that represents the length, using the symbol W?

L = ?

Then, we need to remember that the perimeter (P) of a rectangle is the distance all the way around and that the formula for this perimeter is:

P = 2 * L + 2 * W

Replace P with the given value, and replace L with the expression you wrote above (using W).

You will get an equation containing only numbers and W's. Solve this equation for W, and you'll know the width.

Finally, substitute the value for W into the expression for L to find the length.

If you don't understand my explanation, then let me know, and I'll work through a similar example to show each step. Otherwise, if you get stuck somewhere, then please show whatever work you can accomplish, and try to say something about why you're stuck, so that people can determine where to continue helping you.

Cheers 8-)



 
Re: rectangle problem

Code: 
.  .   .  w + 40  .   .  .  . 
.                           .
w                           w
.                           .
.  .  .   w + 40.  .  .  .  .
4w + 80 = 1200 : kapish?
 
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