Answer
The length of the rectangle is 20 feet.
The width is 17 feet.
Work Step by Step
Since the length is stated in terms of the width, we can let w represent the width. The width is 3 less than the length, which equals l - 3.
The formula for the perimeter of the rectangle is width + width + length + length.
The perimeter of the rectangle is 74, so we set up the following equation:
l+ l - 3 + l - 3 + l - 3 = 74
4l - 6 = 74
4l = 80
Divide both sides by 4.
l = 20.
The length of the rectangle is 20 feet.
The width is l - 3, which equals 20 - 3 = 17 feet.
