A rectangle has a perimeter of 12x + 20 and a width of 2x + 8. What is the length of the rectangle?

let the length be l

2l + 2(2x+8) = 12x+20
2l = 8x + 4
l = 4x + 2

I skipped what I thought was an easy simplification ...

2l + 2(2x+8) = 12x+20
2l + 4x + 16 = 12x + 20
2l = 12x + 20 - 4x - 16
2l = 8x + 4

To find the length of the rectangle, we need to use the formula for the perimeter of a rectangle, which is given by the formula:

Perimeter = 2 × (Length + Width)

In this case, we have the perimeter given as 12x + 20 and the width as 2x + 8. We can substitute these values into the formula and solve for the length.

12x + 20 = 2 × (Length + (2x + 8))

Now, we can simplify and solve for the length:

12x + 20 = 2 × (Length + 2x + 8)

12x + 20 = 2 × Length + 4x + 16

12x - 4x = 2 × Length + 16 - 20

8x = 2 × Length - 4

To isolate the length, we subtract 2x from both sides:

8x - 2x = 2 × Length - 4 - 2x

6x = 2 × Length - 4

Next, we add 4 to both sides:

6x + 4 = 2 × Length - 4 + 4

6x + 4 = 2 × Length

Finally, we divide both sides by 2 to solve for Length:

(6x + 4) ÷ 2 = (2 × Length) ÷ 2

3x + 2 = Length

Therefore, the length of the rectangle is given by 3x + 2.

how did you get right to.... 2l= 8x + 4 ?