How many pots of flowers should he place on any one side of the square?

Question

Tom was asked to form a square with 56 pots of flowers placed at equal intervals between each other. How many pots of flowers should he place on any one side of the square?

Answer 1

If the number of pots used on the length is x

The number of pots used on the width is x-2, because 

the end pots are already placed.

 

2x + 2(x-2) = 56

2x + 2x - 4 = 56

4x - 4 = 56

4x = 60

x = 15

x-2 = 13

 

Each side of the square actually consists of 15 pots

*******************************

 

Another way to think of this.  Leaving the 4 corners open,

place x pots on each side, setting 4 unused pots aside.

4x = 56-4

4x = 52

x = 13

 

Each side is x+2 when you place the last 4 pots

in the corners.  x + 2 = 15 pots per side.