1. The perimeter of a rectangle is 26cm. If the length is 3cm.

longer than the width. What are the dimensions?

We first define our unknowns. In this problem they are looking

for the dimensions. There are two dimensions, the length and the

width, but since we are given that the length is 3 cm. longer than the

width, if we know the width, we will be able to find the length. So

then

Now the fact that the perimeter is 26cm. gives us our equation

to solve. We use the formula for the perimeter,

and substitute our formulas for the length and the width and the

value of the perimeter to get

Remove parentheses.

Combine like terms

Subtract 6 from both sides.

Notice how subtracting from both sides amounts to transposing

the 6 from one side to the other.

Combine

Divide both sides by 4

or

Check

If the width is 5 then the length is 8.

and the perimeter is

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