Question

A pool in the shape of a rectangle has a perimeter of 80feet. The pool is 8 feet less wide than it is long. Find the length and width of the pool

Answer 1

Perimeter is P = 2L + 2W, with L being length and W being width. If the perimeter is 80, we have the P for our equation. It tells us that the width is feet less than the length, so W = L - 8. We will fill that into our perimeter equation to solve for L. 80 = 2L + 2(L-8). 80 = 2L + 2L - 16. 64 = 2L + 2L , and 64 = 4L. That means that the length is 16. The width is 8 less than that, so the width is 8. There you go!

Answer 2

The length and width of the pool = 24 ft and 16 ft

Explanation:

Let length of pool be l and width of pool be w.

A pool in the shape of a rectangle has a perimeter of 80feet.

Perimeter of pool = 2 x ( l + w ) = 80 feet

That is

l + w = 40 ft -----------------------------------eqn 1.

The pool is 8 feet less wide than it is long.

l = 8 + w

l - w = 8 ft -----------------------------------eqn 2.

eqn 1 + eqn 2

2 l = 48

l = 24 ft

Substituting

24 + w = 40

w = 16 ft

The length and width of the pool = 24 ft and 16 ft