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| Math Central | Quandaries & Queries |
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Question from sandra, a student: the perimeter of a rectangle is 40 cm. if the length were doubled and the width halved, the perimeter would be increased by 16cm. Find the dimension of the original rectangle |
Hi Sandra,
2L+2W = 40 [formula for rectangle perimeter]
if the length were doubled and the width halved,
The new length is 2L.
What is the new width?
the perimeter would be increased by 16cm.
What is the new perimeter?
Plugging these three "new" values in, what is the new equation?
You now have two linear equations, forming a system. Can you solve it?
Good Hunting!
RD
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