Square patio with walkway

Oldest

Best Reply

Author

Message

TAGS:

Manager

Joined: 24 Jun 2009

Posts: 64

Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 5 [0], given: 2

Square patio with walkway [#permalink]

22 Nov 2009, 19:54

00:00

Question Stats:

0% (00:00) correct

0% (00:00) wrong

based on 0 sessions

Manager

Joined: 19 Nov 2007

Posts: 228

Followers: 1

Kudos [?]: 55 [0], given: 1

Re: Square patio with walkway [#permalink]

22 Nov 2009, 20:34

Two equations can be formed from the question stem

1---- (a+2x)^2-a^2=132 => 4 x^2+4 a x132
2-----a=x+5

where a= width of the patio
x= width of the walk way

Solving we get a=8 and x=3

So the area of patio is 64
Hence the answer should be B

Manager

Joined: 13 Oct 2009

Posts: 115

Location: USA

Schools: IU KSB

Followers: 4

Kudos [?]: 42 [0], given: 66

Re: Square patio with walkway [#permalink]

22 Nov 2009, 20:45

Area of patio & walkway together = area of walkway + area of patio
(3x+5)^2 = 132 + (x+5)^2
(3x+5)^2 - (x+5)^2 = 132
8x^2+20x=132
x(2x+5) = 33 = 3*11
so x=3

area of patio is (x+5)^2= 8^2 = 64

Answer B

SVP

Joined: 30 Apr 2008

Posts: 1899

Location: Oklahoma City

Schools: Hard Knocks

Followers: 25

Kudos [?]: 344 [1] , given: 32

Re: Square patio with walkway [#permalink]

22 Nov 2009, 21:27

This post received
KUDOS

One other way to solve this is that 132 meters is the size of the walkway. If we add the area of the patio inside it, then we know that the entire thing is still square and the area must be a perfect square.

132 + x = perfect square.

12 = 144
13 = 169
14 = 196
15 = 225

Lets see if any of the answers even result in a perfect square:

a) 56 + 132 = 188 [Not perfect square ]
b) 64 + 132 = 196 [Perfect square]
c) 68 + 132 = 200 [Not Perfect Square]
d) 81 + 132 = 213 [Not Perfect Square]
e) 100 + 132 = 232 [Not perfect square]

The only possibility is B
_________________

------------------------------------
J Allen Morris
**I'm pretty sure I'm right, but then again, I'm just a guy with his head up his a$$.

Find out what's new at GMAT Club - latest features and updates

Senior Manager

Status: Yeah well whatever.

Joined: 18 Sep 2009

Posts: 351

Location: United States

GMAT 1: 660 Q42 V39
GMAT 2: 730 Q48 V42

GPA: 3.49

WE: Analyst (Insurance)

Followers: 4

Kudos [?]: 41 [0], given: 17

Re: Square patio with walkway [#permalink]

23 Nov 2009, 12:48

jallen morris, that's a much easier way to solve this. Thanks for advice.
_________________

He that is in me > he that is in the world. - source 1 John 4:4

SVP

Joined: 30 Apr 2008

Posts: 1899

Location: Oklahoma City

Schools: Hard Knocks

Followers: 25

Kudos [?]: 344 [0], given: 32

Re: Square patio with walkway [#permalink]

23 Nov 2009, 12:57

This scenario was easy because only one of the answers resulted in a perfect square, so the others were eliminated. If you would have come up with 2 answers that were perfect squares, such as 196 and 225, then you'd have to look further.

The number added to 132 resulting in 196 or 225 would have to be a perfect square as well because we're told the interior patio is square. From that standpoint, 64, 81 and 100 were options, but only 64 + 132 = a perfect square (196 = 14^2)

vannbj wrote:

jallen morris, that's a much easier way to solve this. Thanks for advice.

_________________

Re: Square patio with walkway [#permalink] 23 Nov 2009, 12:57

		Similar topics	Author	Replies	Last post
Similar Topics:		The figure shows a square patio surrounded by a walkway of	rthothad	3	30 Jun 2005, 20:03
		The figure shows a square patio surrounded by a walkway of	joemama142000	5	06 Feb 2006, 22:26
		a square patio surrounded by a walkway of width x meters. If	chenhong1224	3	17 Oct 2008, 09:36
	5	The figure shows a square patio surrounded by a walkway of	amitdgr	14	24 Oct 2008, 03:46
		a square patio surrounded by a walkway of width x meters. If	haichao	2	11 Dec 2008, 16:21

Square patio with walkway

Main navigation

GMAT Resources

Partners

MBA Resources

GMAT ® is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council ® (GMAC ®). GMAT Club's website has not been reviewed or endorsed by GMAC.

GMAT Courses

Admissions Consulting

Square patio with walkway

Square patio with walkway

Main navigation

GMAT Resources

Partners

MBA Resources