The perimeter of a rectangle is 24 inches, how do you find the dimensions if its length is 3 times greater than its width?

    Length: 9 inches Width: 3 inches

    You use the information given to you to write a system of two equations.

    The perimeter of a rectangle is equal to the sum of its length and its width, multiplied by ##2##

    ##color(blue)(P = 2 * (L + w))##

    In your case, you know that

    ##2(L+w) = 24##

    This will be your first equation.

    Now focus on the fact that its length is 3 times greater than its width. This can be written like this

    ##L = 3 * w##

    Your system will be

    ##{( 2(L+w) = 24), (L = 3w) :}##

    To solve for the length and width of the rectangle, use the expression you have for ##L## in the first equation to get ##w##

    ##2 * ( 3w + w) = 24##

    ##2 * 4w = 24 => w = 24/8 = color(green)(3)##

    This means that ##L## is equal to

    ##L = 3 * 3 = color(green)(9)##

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