Question

The width of a rectangle is one-third the length. If the perimeter of the rectangle is 56 units, what is the area in square units?

Answer 1

I feel nostalgic to these kind of problems, they were fun =)
So width =1/3 length and perimeter = 56
You get a system :
2*( width + length) = 56 and width =1/3 length
Let's plug in width from 1st equation by its value from 2nd equation, what do you get ?

Answer 2

huh?

Answer 3

I don't understand

Answer 4

Ok what part is confusing you ?
Let x be the width and y be the length. The width of a rectangle is one-third the length.
So x=1/3 y
Up till here good ?

Answer 5

yeah

Answer 6

so is it 2(1/3 + l) =56, like that

Answer 7

Yeah, but don't forgot about the variable :
2*( x + y ) = 56
2*( 1/3 y + y) =56
2*( 1/3 + 1) y = 56
From here you just solve for y.

Answer 8

ok thanks