Question

@anthonyym

Answer 1

The length of one side of a shoebox is 8 cm more than twice the width. The base of the shoebox has an area of 72 cm^2. Write an equation to represent
this situation with w representing the width.

Answer 2

So we need to translate the words into an equation.
"length of one side of a shoebox is 8 cm more than twice the width"
Let l be length, w be width.
l = 2w + 8

And area = length*width

Answer 3

Do you understand the l = 2w + 8 part?

Answer 4

Shouldn't it be flipped?
8+2w

Answer 5

Yes it doesn't matter 8+2w is the same as 2w+8 because order doesn't matter in addition.

Answer 6

I was just keeping it consistent. You know sometimes they say "8 less than w" and it would be w - 8

Answer 7

You have a point, thanks!

Answer 8

So it says the area is 72 cm^2, and area for a rectangle is length*width, so the equation for this would be:
72 = lw

Answer 9

And the other equation we have is l = 2w + 8.
So we need to put the two into one equation.

Answer 10

Have a thought on how to combine
l = 2w + 8,
72 = lw

into one equation?

Answer 11

2w+8w=72

Answer 12

Yes that's so close actually.
You're substituting l = 2w + 8 for the l in 72 = lw, so you have:
72 = (2w + 8)w = 72.

When you distribute the w into 2w, 2w becomes 2w^2. Think that was the mistake.