A rectangular pool measuring 6m by 3m is to have a path surrounding it. If the total area of the pool is to be 31cm^2, find the width (x cm) of the path

Answer 1

Use the following to find the width of the path around the pool: 31 =(6+2x)(3+2x) and solve for x which gives

31=18 +18x + 4x² simplifying this gives 13 = 4x² +18x now use the quadratic formula to solve for x and in so doing x=- 18/8 ±√(18² +52)/8 = -18/8 ± 19.39/8 taking the positive root gives x= 1.39/8 and x=17.4 cm as the width of the path around the pool.