Question 152202
A rectangular swimming pool measures 25m by 6m. It is surrounded by a path of uniform width. If the area of the path is 102m2, find the width of the path.
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"area of path" equals "area of pool and path" minus "area of pool" 
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Let x = width of the path
then
"area of pool and path" = (x+25)(x+6) = x^2+31x+150
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"area of pool" = 25*6 = 150
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The problem gave us the "area of path" as 102 sq meters
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Putting it all together we have:
"area of path" equals "area of pool and path" minus "area of pool" 
102 = (x^2+31x+150) - 150
102 = x^2+31x+150 - 150
102 = x^2+31x
0 = x^2+31x-102
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Factoring the right we have:
0 = (x-3)(x+34)
x = {3,-34}
Since a negative number doesn't make sense our solution is therefore:
3 meters is the width of the path