A square plywood platform has a perimeter that is 6 times the length of a side, decreased by 6. Find the length of a side. (Recall the formula P = 4s.) a. 5 c. 3 b. 1 d. 2

The platform is square.  Let the length of one side be x.
Then the perimeter is P = 6x  - 6 = 4x

Then 2x = 6 and x = 3.  The side length is 3.

Check:  P = 4(3)       = 12
              P = 6(3)-6   =  12

These agree.