A rectangular yard (white area) is surrounded by a hedge (shaded regio

This was majorly brilliant. I was going through a ridiculous quadratic equation only to think, "There has to be an easier way to solve this," and here it is.

The ratio of the length to width of the yard = 5: 4

Let length = 5x and width = 4x

therefore we know , 5x * 4x = 15*12 - 5x*4x
=> x^2 = 4.5
Therefore, x = 3 * sqrt (1/2)

Therefore, width of the the yard = 4x = 4 * 3 * sqrt (1/2) = 6 * sqrt(2)

Hence A) is the answer

Official Solution:


Note: Figure not drawn to scale.

A rectangular yard (white area) is surrounded by a hedge (shaded region) with a length of 15 meters and a width of 12 meters, as shown in the figure above. The area of the yard is equal to the area of the hedge. If the ratio of the length of the hedge to the width of the hedge is the same as the ratio of the length of the yard to the width of the yard, what is the width, in meters, of the yard?

A. \(6\sqrt{2}\)
B. \(\frac{5}{4}\)
C. \(\frac{6}{\sqrt{2}}\)
D. \(7\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}\)
E. \(\frac{6}{2}\)


Let the length of the yard be \(x\), and let the width of the yard be \(y\).

We are told that the length of the hedge is 15 meters and that the width of the hedge is 12 meters, so we can find the area of the yard and hedge combined using the formula for area of a rectangle: \(A_{\text{yard and hedge}} = \text{length} \times \text{width} = 15 \times 12 = 180\). Similarly, we can find the area of the yard: \(A_{yard} = xy\).

We are told that the area of the yard and the hedge are equal, so the area of the hedge must also be \(A_{hedge} = A_{yard} = xy\). We can use this information to write \(xy + xy = 2xy = 180\), or \(xy = 90\).

We know that the length and width of the yard are in the same ratio as the length and width of the hedge. We express this with a proportion: \(\frac{15}{12} = \frac{x}{y}\). Cross-multiply to get \(15y = 12x\). Simplify to get \(5y = 4x\).

Now we have two equations for \(x\) and \(y\). We will solve for these unknowns using substitution. Since we want to find the width, \(y\), we first solve for \(x\) in terms of \(y\). From the equation \(xy = 90\), we get \(x = \frac{90}{y}\). We plug this into \(5y = 4x\) and get \(5y = 4 \times \frac{90}{y} = \frac{360}{y}\). Dividing both sides by 5 and multiplying by \(y\), we find \(y^2 = 72\). We now take the square root of both sides to get \(y = \sqrt{72}\).

To simplify this square root, we look for a perfect square that is a factor of 72. We note that \(72 = 36 \times 2\), and so \(y = \sqrt{72} = \sqrt{36 \times 2} = \sqrt{36} \times \sqrt{2} = 6\sqrt{2}\).

Answer: A.

I missed the fact that one should 180/2=90, so

5x*4x=90
20x^2=90
x^2=90/20 --> x=3*sqrt2/2

finally, 3*sqrt2*4/2=6*sqrt2

A

I don't get it. Why is everyone taking the length and breadth of the hedge as 15 and 12? Wouldn't the area be 180 then? And we know the area is 90. So, shouldn't we equate X/Y = 15-X/12-Y??
Can anyone tell me what silly mistake i am doing?

I don't get it. Why is everyone taking the length and breadth of the hedge as 15 and 12? Wouldn't the area be 180 then? And we know the area is 90. So, shouldn't we equate X/Y = 15-X/12-Y??
Can anyone tell me what silly mistake i am doing?
Bunuel
PareshGmat

The ratio of the length of the hedge (15) to the width of the hedge (12) is the same as the ratio of the length of the yard (x) to the width of the yard (y): 15/12 = x/y

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Ohhh so those aren't the actual dimensions but their ratios. Dimensions will be less than those so as to have an area of 90.
My bad.
Thank you for swift response, Bunuel

180-lw=lw or 180=2lw or lw=90.

now l/w=5/4

5l/4 * l = 90
l^2 = 90*4/5
l^2 = 72
l= sqrt(72)
sqrt(72) = 6(sqrt2)

A.

let L,W=length and width of hedge
let l,w=length and width of yard
LW=180m^2
lw=LW-lw=90m^2
15/12=5/4
(5x)(4x)=90
x^2=9/2
x=3/sqrt2
4x=(6)(sqrt2) meters width of yard

A it is well explained above !

Dear Moderators chetan2u, VeritasKarishma gmatbusters
Can you help ? I am unable to understand why did we divide the area of 180 by 2 to get 90

Total Area = 15*12 = 180

Given that Area of rectangular yard = Area of Hedge (shaded region)
So, let Area of rectangular yard = Area of Hedge (shaded region) = x
hence, x+x = total area = 180,
2x = 180,
or x = 180/2 = 90.

Area of rectangular yard = Area of Hedge (shaded region) \(= \frac{180}{2} = 90\)

Area of yard (white rectangle) = Area of hedge (shaded region)

Total area of yard + hedge = 15*12 = 180 (Area of the complete big rectangle)

So area of just the yard = 180/2 = 90

Ratio of length:width = 5:4. Say the length and width are 5x and 4x.

\(5x*4x = 90\)
\(x = 3/\sqrt{2}\)

\(Width = 4x = 4*3/\sqrt{2} = 6\sqrt{2}\)

Let L = length of Internal yard

Let W = width of Internal yard

Area of Hedge = (15 * 12) - (L * W)

Area of Yard = L * W


Since Area of Yard = Area of Hedge

(180) - LW = LW

180 = 2 * LW ---- equation 1



(Length of Hedge) / (Width of Hedge) = 15 / 12 = L / W

L = (5/4) * W ----Substituting L in for equation 1 above


2 * (5/4) * w * w = 180

(w)^2 = 72

w = sqrt(72) = 6 * sqrt(2)


Answer -A-

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