Problema Solution
a pool measuring 16 meters by 20 meters is surrounded by a path of uniform width. If the area of the pool and the path combined is 780 square meters what is the width of the path?
Answer provided by our tutors
let 'x' be the width of the path, x>0
the total area of the pool + the path = 780 m^2
(16 + 2x)(20 + 2x) = 780
4x^2 + 72x - 320 = 0
by solving this quadratic equation we find the roots
x1 = 5
x2 = -23
since x > 0 the solution is 5m.