Last visit was: 09 Jul 2025, 17:53 It is currently 09 Jul 2025, 17:53
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
rahul
Joined: 18 Jun 2004
Last visit: 19 Aug 2023
Posts: 50
Own Kudos:
427
 [31]
Location: san jose , CA
Posts: 50
Kudos: 427
 [31]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
27
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 09 Jul 2025
Posts: 102,609
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 97,813
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 102,609
Kudos: 739,908
 [19]
10
Kudos
Add Kudos
9
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
ywilfred
Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Last visit: 06 Mar 2012
Posts: 1,989
Own Kudos:
2,013
 [3]
Location: Singapore
Posts: 1,989
Kudos: 2,013
 [3]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
himanshujovi
Joined: 28 Apr 2014
Last visit: 29 Aug 2016
Posts: 140
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 46
Posts: 140
Kudos: 76
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Let me try and explain. If we cut at each vertex , the closed figure can turn into a big ,thin strip with length being equal to perimeter and width same as before. The area will remain same as before.
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 09 Jul 2025
Posts: 102,609
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 97,813
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 102,609
Kudos: 739,908
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
himanshujovi
Let me try and explain. If we cut at each vertex , the closed figure can turn into a big ,thin strip with length being equal to perimeter and width same as before. The area will remain same as before.

We are told that the rectangular yard is 20 yards wide and 40 yards long. Why are you changing the dimensions of the yard? If you mean something elese please upload the figure.
User avatar
Ekland
Joined: 15 Oct 2015
Last visit: 30 Apr 2023
Posts: 359
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 342
Concentration: Finance, Strategy
GPA: 3.93
WE:Account Management (Education)
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
rahul
A rectangular yard is 20 yards wide and 40 yards long. It is surrounded by a thick hedge that grows on the border of the property, but completely within the boundaries of the yard. If the hedge covers an area of 171 square yards, what is the width?

A. 160/120
B. 171/120
C. 180/120
D. 191/120
E. 800/120

My mind couldn't go into this question. each option(width) produced lenght that is longer than that of the field whcih is supposed to be larger than. Any mistake in this question? Some one even suggested that they mean 171 (sqaured) yards. thats even more preposterous as 171squared is larger than 800. Can someone explain what the question is talking about first?
User avatar
chetan2u
User avatar
GMAT Expert
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Last visit: 09 Jul 2025
Posts: 11,296
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 333
Status:Math and DI Expert
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 11,296
Kudos: 41,641
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Nez
rahul
A rectangular yard is 20 yards wide and 40 yards long. It is surrounded by a thick hedge that grows on the border of the property, but completely within the boundaries of the yard. If the hedge covers an area of 171 square yards, what is the width?

A. 160/120
B. 171/120
C. 180/120
D. 191/120
E. 800/120

My mind couldn't go into this question. each option(width) produced lenght that is longer than that of the field whcih is supposed to be larger than. Any mistake in this question? Some one even suggested that they mean 171 (sqaured) yards. thats even more preposterous as 171squared is larger than 800. Can someone explain what the question is talking about first?

Hi Nez,

the width is 160/120 which is nearly 1.5 yards.. so its OK..
what 171 square yards means is that 171 is the area of width in square yards..
same as if unit of length is in m, the area can be in square m...
171 sq yards means only 171 and not 171^2..
User avatar
chetan2u
User avatar
GMAT Expert
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Last visit: 09 Jul 2025
Posts: 11,296
Own Kudos:
41,641
 [1]
Given Kudos: 333
Status:Math and DI Expert
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 11,296
Kudos: 41,641
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
rahul
A rectangular yard is 20 yards wide and 40 yards long. It is surrounded by a thick hedge that grows on the border of the property, but completely within the boundaries of the yard. If the hedge covers an area of 171 square yards, what is the width?

A. 160/120
B. 171/120
C. 180/120
D. 191/120
E. 800/120

Hi,
Another method where you can make use of choices given to home on to correct choice..

lets imagine the strip be x yards all along the perimeter..
so Area= perimeter*x - four corners of x*x

A= 2(20+40)x-4x^2=171..
120x-4x^2=171..

two ways hereafter:-

1) substitute ways and find answer

2)since all choices are in fraction with denominator 120, lets take x=y/120, where y is an integer..
now 120x will be an integer and 171 is an integer so 4x^2 will also be an integer (since Integer-Integer=Integer)..
4x^2=4*y^2/120^2= (y/60)^2 should be an integer ..
so y or the NUMERATOR should be a multiple of 60..
only 180 in C is multiple of 60..so ans is C

User avatar
PKN
Joined: 01 Oct 2017
Last visit: 22 Jan 2025
Posts: 816
Own Kudos:
1,540
 [1]
Given Kudos: 41
Status:Learning stage
WE:Supply Chain Management (Energy)
Posts: 816
Kudos: 1,540
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
A rectangular yard is 20 yards wide and 40 yards long. It is surrounded by a thick hedge that grows on the border of the property, but completely within the boundaries of the yard. If the hedge covers an area of 171 square yards, what is the width of the hedge?

A. 160/120
B. 170/120
C. 180/120
D. 191/120
E. 800/120

Area of the rectangular yard=20*40=800 sq. yard
Given, area of the hedge=171 sq. yard
So, area of the yard that is not covered with hedge=Area of the rectangular yard-Area of the hedge=800-171=629 sq. yard

let 'w' be the width of the hedge, then length of the uncovered yard, L=40-2w and width of the uncovered yard. W=20-2w
Hence, area of the uncovered yard=L*W=(40-2w)(20-2w)=629
Or, \(4w^2-120w+800=629\)
Or, \(4w^2-120w+171=0\)
On solving, we have w=57/2(Not in option) ,3/2 or180/120

Ans. (C)
User avatar
EgmatQuantExpert
User avatar
e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 04 Jan 2015
Last visit: 02 Apr 2024
Posts: 3,681
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 165
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,681
Kudos: 19,422
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post

Solution



Given:
    • A rectangular yard is 20 yards wide and 40 yards long.
    • The yard is surrounded by a thick hedge that grows on the border of the property, but completely within the boundaries of the yard.
    • The hedge covers an area of 171 square yards.

To find:
    • The width of the hedge.

Approach and Working:
    • The area of the whole yard = 40 x 20 = 800
    • The area of the hedge = 171
      o Hence, the area of the yard without the hedge = 800 – 171 = 629

If we assume the width of the hedge to be w, then
    • Length of yard without hedge = 40 – 2w
    • Width of yard without hedge = 20 – 2w
    • Therefore, area of yard without hedge = (40 – 2w) (20 – 2w) = 629
      o Or, (40 – 2w) x (20 – 2w) = 37 x 17 = (40 – 2 x 1.5) x (20 – 2 x 1.5)

Comparing both sides of the equation, we can say w = 1.5 = 180/120

Hence, the correct answer is option C.

Answer: C

User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 37,366
Own Kudos:
Posts: 37,366
Kudos: 1,010
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Moderators:
Math Expert
102609 posts
PS Forum Moderator
683 posts