A pool measuring 16 meters by 18 meters is surrounded by a path of uniform as in the figure. If the area of the pool and the path combined is 528 square meters, what is the width of the path?

1 Answer
Feb 6, 2017

Width of path is #3# meters.

Explanation:

The dimensions of pool are #16# meters and #18# meters

as it is surrounded by a path of uniform width, let the width be #x# meters and

the dimensions of the pool and the path combined will be #16+2x# and #18+2x# and as area is #528# #m^2#, the equation is

#(16+2x)(18+2x)=528#

or #288+32x+36x+4x^2=528#

i.e. #4x^2+68x-240=0# and dividing by #4#

#x^2+17x-60=0#

i.e. #(x+20)(x-3)=0#

i.e. #x=-20# or #x=3#

As width of path cannot be negative, it is #3# meters.