02-28-2012, 10:12 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-28-2012, 10:13 PM by AceInfinity.)
You know there's one side (x+1) which must be the length of the opposite side to it, and vice versa with the side with length (x-5) so theres 2 of (x-5) sides, and 2 of (x+1) sides. This combined adds up to the perimeter.
2(x+1) + 2(x-5)
= 2x + 2 + 2x - 10
= 4x - 8
Voila
2(x+1) + 2(x-5)
= 2x + 2 + 2x - 10
= 4x - 8
Voila