A rectangular Persian carpet has a perimeter of 252 inches. The length of the carpet is 28 in, more than the width. What are the dimensions of the carpet?

1 Answer
Nov 5, 2016

The length of the carpet is 77 inches and the width is 49 inches.

Explanation:

The formula for perimeter is p = 2l + 2wp=2l+2w where pp is the perimeter, ll is the length and ww is the width.

If the length of the carpet is 28 in. more than the width we know:

l = w + 28l=w+28

Substituting w + 28w+28 for ll and 252 for pp in the formula for perimeter and solving for ww while keeping the equation balanced gives:

252 = 2(w + 28) + 2w252=2(w+28)+2w

252 = 2w + 56 + 2w252=2w+56+2w

252 = 4w + 56252=4w+56

252 - 56 = 4w + 56 - 5625256=4w+5656

196 = 4w196=4w

196/4 = (4w)/41964=4w4

w = 49w=49

And substituting 4949 for ww in the equation for ll gives:

l = 49 + 28l=49+28

l = 77l=77