Can someone help me figure something out..I had this problem on an algebra quiz and couldn't figure it out..i will also attach what the teacher told me was the way to do it and explain why i am confused about it.

Question

anonymous · Answer

Here is the problem

anonymous · Answer

And here is what the teacher said..my confusion is that the problem said rectangle but she is treating it as a square...
i emailed her and she responded "Squares are Rectangles"
i know that, however rectangles are not squares so shouldn't there still be 2 different values for sides?

anonymous · Answer

@paki @thomaster  can either of you clear this up for me?

superdavesuper · Answer

no, the Q should be solved by assuming it is a rectangle and then finding the max area expressed as a function of x. check out a similar prob here: https://purplemath.com/modules/perimetr6.htm the sol'n however will show dat for max area, the rectangle will be a square.