Finding width and length

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This task is about using equations to solve maths problems.

A rectangular tapa display is 8 cm higher than it is wide. It took 96 cm of framing to go right round it.

Jared wrote this algebra statement to help her find the width and the length of the tapa display:

w + (w + 8) = 48

Question 3Change answer

a) What part of the frame of the painting does the w stand for?

b) What part of the frame of the painting does the (w + 8) stand for?

c) Why is the answer to the equation above 48 when it takes 96 cm to go right around the painting?

d) i) What is the width of the painting? cm

ii) What is the length of the painting? cm

Task administration:

This task is completed with pencil and paper or online with some auto-marking.

Image: tapa | Wikipedia | Public domain

Level:

Curriculum info:

Keywords:

Description of task:

Students use a linear equation to solve a mathematical problem involving the length and width of a framed picture.

Curriculum Links:

This resource can help to identify students' ability to use inverse operations to solve simple linear relationships.

Learning Progression Frameworks

This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with

within the Mathematics Learning Progressions Frameworks.

Answers/responses:

			Y8 (04/1997)	Y9 (04/1997)
a)		the width of the painting	difficult	easy
b)		the length of the painting	difficult	difficult
c)		48 is 1 width plus 1 length only, which is half of the distance around the painting.	very difficult	difficult
d)	i) ii)	20 cm. 28 cm.	very difficult very difficult	very difficult very difficult