Before the White House

As the first U.S. president, George Washington laid the groundwork for the White House, though he never lived there. Instead, he lived in a plantation home known as Mount Vernon, in Virginia. The home was originally a one-and- a-half-story farmhouse built by his father. After Washington acquired the house, he spent 45 years expanding it into a 21-room mansion. 

As the first U.S. president, George Washington laid the groundwork for the White House. But he never lived there. He lived in a plantation home in Virginia. It’s called Mount Vernon. The home was originally a one-and- a-half-story farmhouse built by his father. Washington spent 45 years expanding it into a 21-room mansion.    

Washington’s last addition was called the New Room, often used for parties. Most homes at the time could have fit in just this room! Its perimeter was 108 feet. The length was 31 feet. What was the room’s width?

Washington’s last addition was called the New Room, often used for parties. Most homes at the time could have fit in just this room! Its perimeter was 108 feet. The length was 31 feet. What was the room’s width?

Thomas Jefferson was the author of the Declaration of Independence and served as the third president of the United States. He spent more than 40 years building and redesigning Monticello, the home on the Virginia land he inherited from his father. The lavish 33-room house was just down the road from James Monroe’s home. Monticello had a very large library. When the original Library of Congress was burned down by the British in 1814, Jefferson donated his personal collection of 6,487 books.  

Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. He was also the third president of the United States. He spent more than 40 years building and redesigning Monticello. Monticello is the home on the land he inherited from his father in Virginia. The lavish 33-room house was just down the road from James Monroe's home. Monticello had a very large library. Jefferson donated his personal collection of 6,487 books to the Library of Congress. That’s after the original one was burned down by the British in 1814. 

What is the perimeter of Monticello?

What is the perimeter of Monticello?

For years, visitors have taken tours of the historic home of James Monroe, the country’s fifth president, in Charlottesville, Virginia. The humble two-room cottage is where historians believed Monroe lived with his wife in the early 1800s. But a recent archaeological exploration of the estate uncovered a surprise—the foundation of a 74-by-30-foot mansion. Monroe, it turns out, lived more comfortably than experts had realized. The archaeologists suspect that the smaller home served as a guesthouse. Monroe’s actual residence probably burned down after he sold the estate. 

For years, visitors have taken tours of the historic home of James Monroe. The humble two-room cottage is in Charlottesville, Virginia. Historians believed the fifth president lived with his wife in the early 1800s. But a recent archaeological exploration of the estate uncovered a surprise. They found the foundation of a 74-by-30-foot mansion. This means Monroe lived more comfortably than experts realized. The archaeologists suspect that the smaller home served as a guesthouse. Monroe's actual residence probably burned down after he sold the estate. 

The smaller room is about 17 feet by 12 feet. What is the total perimeter of both rooms?

The smaller room is about 17 feet by 12 feet. What is the total perimeter of both rooms?

Historians often name Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, as one of the nation’s greatest presidents. He led the United States during the Civil War and ended slavery. Lincoln was born in 1809 in a one-room log cabin on a Kentucky farm. He and his family lived there until he was two years old. The cabin was 16 feet long and 18 feet wide. The original log cabin was demolished sometime before 1865, but a replica sits at the site today.

Historians often name Abraham Lincoln as one of the nation's greatest presidents. He led the United States during the Civil War and ended slavery. The sixteenth president was born in 1809 in a one-room log cabin. It’s on a Kentucky farm. He and his family lived there until he was two years old.

The cabin was 16 feet long and 18 feet wide. The original log cabin was demolished sometime before 1865. A replica sits at the site today.

What is the area of the cabin? Write and solve an equation.

What is the area of the cabin? Write and solve an equation.

President Donald Trump was recently inaugurated as our nation’s 45th president. His win was a historic upset, with many polls predicting Hillary Clinton would be the winner. 

Before becoming president, Trump made billions in real estate, and starred in reality TV shows like The Apprentice. He lived in a $100 million penthouse apartment in New York City. He also owns homes in Florida, Virginia, and California.

President Donald Trump was recently inaugurated as our nation's 45th president. His win was a historic upset. Many polls predicted Hillary Clinton would be the winner.

Trump made billions in real estate before becoming president. He also starred in reality TV shows like The Apprentice. He lived in a $100 million penthouse apartment in New York City. He also owns homes in Florida, Virginia, and California.  

Trump’s apartment has an area of 30,000 square feet. About how many times greater is the area of Trump’s apartment compared to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello estate? Round your divisor to the nearest thousand and solve.

Trump’s apartment has an area of 30,000 square feet. About how many times greater is the area of Trump’s apartment compared to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello estate? Round your divisor to the nearest thousand and solve.