16Hit1600
AlgebraMediumGreatest integer length under a perimeter limit

Algebra practice question

A rectangle has a width of 5 centimetres, and its perimeter must be less than 40 centimetres. What is the greatest possible integer value of its length, in centimetres?

Answer: 14

Perimeter 2(5 + l) < 40 gives 5 + l < 20, so l < 15. The greatest integer less than 15 is 14. Check: 2(5 + 14) = 38 < 40.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 15
A length of 15 gives a perimeter of exactly 40, which is not LESS than 40.
If you answered 30
30 is 40 − 2(5), forgetting to halve the remaining 30 for the two lengths.
If you answered 35
35 is 40 − 5, forgetting that the perimeter counts each side twice.

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