A pathway is constructed around a garden whose length is 15 yards and width is 12 yards. If the total area is 340 sq yards, how do you find the length, width and area of the pathway?

1 Answer
Jan 18, 2018

area: 160 sq yd
length: 20.6 yd
width: 16.5 yd

Explanation:

total area = area of garden + area of pathway

340 = (15*12)+ area of pathway

= 340 - 180 = 160

area of pathway = 160 sq yd

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total area = 340 sq yd

the pathway is constructed around the garden.
its dimensions (length and width) must be similar (directly proportional) to the dimensions of the field.

l = 15
w = 12

the area found by multiplying the length and width of the pathway is the same as the total area, 340 sq yd.

340/180 = 17/9
(ratio of area of field to total area)

sqrt(17/9) = (sqrt17)/3
(ratio of lengths)

15 * (sqrt17)/3 = 5(sqrt17) = 20.6 (3s.f.)

12 * (sqrt17)/3 = 4(sqrt17) = 16.5 (3s.f.)

dimensions of the pathway:

l = 20.6 yd
w = 16.5 yd

to check:
lw = 339.9 ~~340
340 = total area