Question

Fencing Micah has $74$feet of fencing to make a dog run in his yard. He wants the length to be $2.5$feet more than the width. Find the length, $L$, by solving the equation $2L+2(L-2.5)=74$.

Short answer

The length $L=19.75$

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Given Information 

Micah has $74$feet of fencing to make a dog run in his yard.

He wants the length to be $2.5$feet more than the width.

The equation is role="math" localid="1645515923581" $2L+2(L-2.5)=74$.

We have to find the length,$L$, by solving the equation.

Step 3. The equation is 2L+2(L−2.5)=74

Distribute first.

$2L+2\times L-2\times 2.5=74$

Simplify

$2L+2L-5=74$

Combine like term.

$4L-5=74$

Step 3. Add 5 on both side

$$\begin{gathered} 4L-5+5=74+5 \\ 4L=79 \end{gathered}$$

Divide by 4 on both side

$$\begin{gathered} \frac{4}{4}L=\frac{79}{4} \\ L=19.75 \end{gathered}$$