One side of the rectangle is 5.6 cm smaller than the other, and its perimeter is 72 cm. Find the sides of the rectangle.

From the condition, we know that one of the sides of the rectangle is 5.6 cm smaller than the other, and its perimeter is 72 cm.

In order to find the sides of a rectangle, let’s construct and solve a linear equation in one variable.

Let’s denote one of the sides of the rectangle using the variable x, then the other side can be written as (x – 5.6).

Formula for finding the perimeter of a rectangle.

P = 2 (a + b);

2 (x + x – 5.6) = 72;

2x – 5.6 = 72: 2;

2x – 5.6 = 36;

2x = 36 + 5.6;

2x = 41.6;

x = 20.8 cm on one side of the rectangle, 20.8 – 5.6 = 15.2 cm on the other side.