The length of a pen is 5 more than its width. The perimeter is 26 m. Find the length and the width.

P=2l+2w

Since it is given that P=26m, length is 5 more than its width (w+5), we'll work it out in the perimeter formula.

26=2 (w+5) + 2w

26=2w+10+2w

26=4w+10

4w=26-10

4w=16

w=4

Thus the width is 4m. Let's find the length.

l=w+5

l=4+5

l=9

The length of a pen is 9m.

L = length

W = width

P = perimeter

P = 26m

L = W + 5 [the length is 5 more than the width]

The perimeter is the total of adding all of the side lengths together.

P = L + L + W + W or P = 2L + 2W

Because L = W + 5, you can substitute/plug in (W + 5) for "L" in the equation

P = 2L + 2W

P = 2 (W + 5) + 2W Multiply 2 into (W + 5)

P = 2W + 10 + 2W Combine like terms

P = 4W + 10

Since you know the perimeter is 26, plug 26 in for "P"

26 = 4W + 10 Subtract 10 on both sides

16 = 4W Divide 4 on both sides

4 = W

Now that you know the width, you can find the length

L = W + 5

L = 4 + 5

L = 9

The width is 4 m, the length is 9 m.