Algebra I: 1,001 Practice Problems For Dummies

Chapter 19

Using Formulas in Geometric Story Problems

Story problems (practical applications) appear in all types and levels of mathematics. A really nice feature of geometric story problems is that you can almost always find a formula to apply.

The Problems You'll Work On

From the beginning and through the middle and end, the geometric story problems in this chapter require the following skills:

• Finding the perimeter and area of rectangles
• Tackling trapezoids with their unequal sides
• Squaring up with properties of squares
• Recognizing hexagons and their usefulness in traffic control
• Applying the Pythagorean theorem and Pythagorean triples
• Computing the volume of a right rectangular prism
• Determining the surface area and volume of cylinders
• Dealing with the difference between radian and degree measures for angles
• Using Heron's formula for the area of a triangle

What to Watch Out For

Don't get ahead of yourself when working these problems. Watch out for the following:

• Recognizing which formula to use for which figure or application
• Matching up the correct numbers and units with the symbols in a formula
• Performing the formula's operations correctly

Working around the Perimeter of Rectangles

808–813 Solve the problems using the formula for the perimeter of a rectangle: P = 2(l + w).

808. What is the perimeter of a rectangular yard measuring 6 yards wide and 8 yards long?

809. If the perimeter of a rectangular plot is 400 feet, and the width is 50 feet, then what is the length ...