Problem Solving Continuation

b
Geometry Problems
The perimeter of a geometric figure is a measure of the distance around the figure.
The equation for the perimeters of a rectangle and triangle:
Rectangle: P=2(length) + 2(width) = 2l + 2w
Triangle: P= a + b +c
w l w
l a c
Note: always use the formula for the perimeter of the indicated figure.
Example 1: If the length of a rectangular parking lot is 10 m less than twice it’s width, and the perimeter is 400 m, find the
length of the parking lot.
Step 1: Let x = the width of the rectangular parking lot Step 4: 2(2x - 10) + 2(x) = 400
2x – 10 = the length of the rectangular parking lot 4x - 20 + 2x = 400
Step 2: P = 2l + 2w l = 2x – 10 2x - 20 = 400
6x = 400 + 20
w=x x = 420 ÷ 6
x = 70
Step 3: 400 = 2(2x - 10) + 2(x) Step 5: length = 2x – 10 = 2(70) – 10 = 130 m
Length is 130 m

Example 2: The perimeter of a rectangle is 150 ft. The length of the rectangle is twice the width. Find the length and width of
the rectangle.
Step 1: Let x = the width of the rectangle Step 4: 2(2x) + 2(x) = 150
2x = the length of the rectangle 4x + 2x = 150
Step 2: P = 2l + 2w l = 2x 6x = 150
x = 150 ÷ 6
w=x x = 25
Step 5: Width = x = 25
Step 3: 150 = 2(2x) + 2(x) Length = 2x = 2(25) = 50
Length is 50 ft anf Width is 25 ft

Example 3: The perimeter of a yield sign in the shape of an isosceles triangle is 22 ft. Find the length of the shortest side if it is
2 feet less than the other two sides.
Step 1: Let x = length of the two equal sides Step 4: 22 = x – 2 + x + x
x - 2 = the length of the third side 3x - 2 = 22
Step 2: P=a+b+c 3x = 22 + 2
c=x 3x = 24
a= 2x x = 24 ÷ 3
b=x x=8
Step 3: 22 = (x – 2) + (x) + (x) Step 5: x = 8 ft length of the two equal sides
x - 2 = 6 ft the length of the third side
Length of the short side is 6 ft.
Problem involving Angles of triangle
In a triangle, the sum of the measure of all the angles is 180o. Two special types of triangles are shown below. A right triangle has
one right angle – that is 90o angle. Isosceles triangle has two equal angles.

A + B + C = 180O
B
Equal
90o Angles
A C
Note: Let a variable represent the measure of one of the unknown angles. Express the other angles in terms of that variable. Use
the equation A + B + C = 180O.

Example: The second angle of a triangle is three times as large as the first. The third angle is 30o more than the first.
Find the measure of each angle.
Step 4: x + 3x +x+30 = 180
Step 1: Let x = measure of the first angle 5x + 30 = 180
3x = measure of the second angle 5x = 180 - 30
x + 30 = measure of the third angle 5x = 150
Step 2: x = 150 ÷ 5
1st + 2nd + 3rd = 180o x = 30
Step 5: x = 30
3x = 3 (30) = 90
Step 3: (x) + (3x) +(x+30) = 180 x + 30 = 30 + 30 = 60
30o = length of the firs
90o = the length of the second
60o = the measure of the third angle

Exercises:

1. The width of a rectangle is 8 ft shorter than the length. The perimeter of a rectangle is 364 ft. find the length and width of
the rectangle.

2. Find the dimensions of a rectangle with perimeter 128 inches if its length is 6 inches less than 4 times the width.

3. In an isosceles triangle, the third side is 2 m less than one of the equal sides. If the perimeter is 16 m, find the length of
each side.

4. The perimeter of a triangle is 30 ft. The length of the first side is 1 ft less than twice the length of the second side. The
length of the third side is 1 ft more than twice the length of the second side. Find the length of each side.

5. The second angle of a triangle is 4 times as large as the first. The third angle is 45o less than the sum of the other two
angles. Find the measure of each angle.