Word problems involving the area between two rectangles

Question

a rectangular yard measuring 36 ft by 67 ft is border and surrounded by a fence inside a walk that is 2 ft wide goes all the way along the fence. Find the area of this walk

Answer 1

a rectangular yard measuring 36 ft by 67 ft is border and surrounded by a fence inside a walk that is 2 ft wide goes all the way along the fence. Find the area of this walk

First, draw a picture !

Then using geometry (just several rectangles), you may subdivide the drawing several ways. Use a way that gives either numbers or simple expressions (since you have to multiply length by width to get area) for each subdivision.

My approach would be to calculate the area of the yard (36 ft * 67 ft = 2412 ft²), then to calculate the area of the yard (inside the walk) and the walk that goes "along the fence." The total area is 40 ft * 71 ft = 2622 ft². Be sure to add the 2-ft width of the walk twice !!

Look at your drawing again. The area of the walk is the total area minus the yard area.

Area of walk = 2840 ft² - 2412 ft²

Area of walk = 428 ft²