The perimeter of a parallelogram is 72 meters. The width of the parallelogram is 4 meters less than it length. Find the length and the width of the parallelogram.

P = L + L + w + w

72 = 2 (L) + 2 (L-4)

Distribute

72 = 2 (L) + 2 (L) - 8

Add like terms

72 = 4 (L) - 8

Subtract 8 from both sides

64 = 4 (L)

Divide both sides by 4

16 = L

The length is 16. Now substitute that in the equation for finding w.

w = L - 4

w =