CECIL’S LATEST TRICK

To amaze the audience, Cecil set up four tightropes in a rectangle, each connected at a pole as shown in the diagram at right. A ladder down from the ropes is located at point $A$.  

1. If Cecil starts at point $A$ and must travel completely around the rectangle, how far must Cecil travel?

   Hint (a):

   The distance Cecil must travel is the perimeter of the rectangle made by the four tightropes.

   Answer (a):

   $54$ feet

2. How can Cecil’s distance be represented by an expression?

   Hint (b):

   Perimeter can be written as $2(\text{width})+2(\text{length})$. Use this expression, substituting the appropriate values for ''width'' and ''length.''