Question 620919
Hi, there--
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I presume that you want the width of the path.
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Let x be the width of the path.
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The path goes all the way around the pool to the width of the pool plus the path (on both sides) is 18+2x.
The length of the pool plus the path is 28+2x.
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The formula for the area of the pool and the path is length times width. So,
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{{{(18+2x)(28+2x)=1200}}}
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Simplify and solve for x.
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{{{504+56x+36x+4x^2=1200}}}
{{{4x^2+92x-696=0}}}
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Divide every term by 4.
{{{x^2+23-174=0}}}
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We can solve this quadratic by factoring. We need two numbers whose product is -174 and whose sum is 23.  The numbers are 29 and -6. The quadratic in factored form is
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{{{(x-6)(x+29)=0}}}

{{{x-6=0}}} or {{{x+29=0}}} so x=6 or x=-29. We cannot have a path with a negative width, so the pathway is 6 meters wide.
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Hope this helps! Feel free to email if you have question about the solution.
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Ms.Figgy
math.in.the.vortex@gmail.com