Last visit was: 28 Apr 2026, 07:45 It is currently 28 Apr 2026, 07:45
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
Events & Promotions
avatar
sanket1991
Joined: 14 Sep 2014
Last visit: 22 Aug 2015
Posts: 74
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 51
WE:Engineering (Consulting)
Posts: 74
Kudos: 109
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
anik19890
Joined: 03 Jul 2015
Last visit: 17 Mar 2016
Posts: 24
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 27
Posts: 24
Kudos: 120
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Manonamission
Joined: 11 Jul 2016
Last visit: 22 Mar 2017
Posts: 72
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 87
Posts: 72
Kudos: 208
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
longhaul123
Joined: 03 Jul 2017
Last visit: 11 Nov 2018
Posts: 138
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 27
Status:IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, YOU CAN DO IT
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, International Business
Posts: 138
Kudos: 37
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I eventually didn't understand the figure . The outer box is the walkway and the inner one is the patio. Am i correct? Sorry seems like silly question, but iam weak in geometry and it would really great if someone could help me understand the figure.
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 28 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,949
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,927
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,949
Kudos: 811,716
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
longhaul123
I eventually didn't understand the figure . The outer box is the walkway and the inner one is the patio. Am i correct? Sorry seems like silly question, but iam weak in geometry and it would really great if someone could help me understand the figure.

We are given that the patio is surrounded by a walkway, so yellow area is walkway and red is patio itself.
Attachment:
patio.JPG
patio.JPG [ 13.39 KiB | Viewed 2705 times ]
User avatar
longhaul123
Joined: 03 Jul 2017
Last visit: 11 Nov 2018
Posts: 138
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 27
Status:IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, YOU CAN DO IT
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, International Business
Posts: 138
Kudos: 37
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Thank youBunuel
avatar
SirFrancis
Joined: 20 Jul 2017
Last visit: 26 Jul 2017
Posts: 2
Own Kudos:
Posts: 2
Kudos: 4
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I did not realise this when I first read the question but with hindsight the fastest way to solve this is to realise that:

both the answer and answer+132 must be perfect squares so:

A) 56 not a square
B) 64 is ok and 64+132 =196 is also ok
C) 58 not a square
D) 81+132 = 213 not a square
E) 100+132 = 232 not a square

so answer is C
User avatar
JeffTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 04 Mar 2011
Last visit: 05 Jan 2024
Posts: 2,974
Own Kudos:
8,718
 [1]
Given Kudos: 1,646
Status:Head GMAT Instructor
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 2,974
Kudos: 8,718
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
rthothad

The figure shows a square patio surrounded by a walkway of width x meters. If the area of the walkway is 132 square meters and the width of the patio is 5 meters greater than the width of the walkway, what is the area of the patio, in square meters?

A. 56
B. 64
C. 68
D. 81
E. 100

If we let x = the width of the walkway, then the width of the patio = x + 5. Let’s create the equation for the area of the combined walkway and patio. We see that the entire length of the combined walkway-patio is (x + x + x + 5) = (3x + 5). Because it is a square, we square (3x + 5) to determine the combined area. We see that this is equal to the area of the patio plus the area of the walkway:

(3x + 5)^2 = (x + 5)^2 + 132

9x^3 + 30x + 25 = x^2 + 10x + 25 + 132

8x^2 + 20x - 132 = 0

2x^2 + 5x - 33 = 0

(2x + 11)(x - 3) = 0

2x + 11 = 0

2x = -11

x = -5.5

Or x = 3

Since x cannot be negative, x = 3.

Since x = 3, the area of the patio is (3 + 5)^2 = 8^2 = 64.

Answer: B
User avatar
TheNightKing
Joined: 18 Dec 2017
Last visit: 20 Mar 2024
Posts: 1,124
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 421
Location: United States (KS)
GMAT 1: 600 Q46 V27
GMAT 1: 600 Q46 V27
Posts: 1,124
Kudos: 1,381
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
rthothad

The figure shows a square patio surrounded by a walkway of width x meters. If the area of the walkway is 132 square meters and the width of the patio is 5 meters greater than the width of the walkway, what is the area of the patio, in square meters?

A. 56
B. 64
C. 68
D. 81
E. 100

Attachment:
patio.JPG

Leave everything else.
If I have to add something to 132 the result should be a perfect square. Option B works. :)
avatar
Nishwanth
Joined: 02 Apr 2019
Last visit: 18 Dec 2019
Posts: 2
Given Kudos: 18
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Since it is a square the area should be a perfect square.

Area given 132

Option b 64

Total area 64+132=196

Side =14

Only this option has a perfect square

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
amarsinha
Joined: 20 Jul 2012
Last visit: 27 Jun 2024
Posts: 85
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 17
GMAT 1: 650 Q47 V33
GMAT 1: 650 Q47 V33
Posts: 85
Kudos: 45
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Ans 64. Attached solution

Posted from my mobile device
Attachments

IMG_20190808_123756099.jpg
IMG_20190808_123756099.jpg [ 2.43 MiB | Viewed 1983 times ]

User avatar
kawal27
Joined: 10 Oct 2019
Last visit: 15 Dec 2022
Posts: 81
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 82
Location: India
Schools: NTU '21
GMAT 1: 530 Q40 V23
Schools: NTU '21
GMAT 1: 530 Q40 V23
Posts: 81
Kudos: 447
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
rthothad

The figure shows a square patio surrounded by a walkway of width x meters. If the area of the walkway is 132 square meters and the width of the patio is 5 meters greater than the width of the walkway, what is the area of the patio, in square meters?

A. 56
B. 64
C. 68
D. 81
E. 100

Attachment:
patio.JPG


132+64 = 196
ONLY AVAILABLE CHOICE WHEN ADDED TO 132 GIVES PERFECT SQUARE
ANS:B
User avatar
GMATGuruNY
Joined: 04 Aug 2010
Last visit: 02 Apr 2026
Posts: 1,347
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 9
Schools:Dartmouth College
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 1,347
Kudos: 3,906
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
rthothad

The figure shows a square patio surrounded by a walkway of width x meters. If the area of the walkway is 132 square meters and the width of the patio is 5 meters greater than the width of the walkway, what is the area of the patio, in square meters?

A. 56
B. 64
C. 68
D. 81
E. 100

Attachment:
patio.JPG

We can PLUG IN THE ANSWERS, which represent the area of the patio.
Since the area of the walkway = 132, the correct answer must yield the following:
outer square - patio = 132

D: 81
Since the area of the patio = 81, each side of the patio = 9 meters
Since the width of the walkway is 5 less than the width of the patio, the width of the walkway = 9-5 = 4 meters
Since the walkway extends 4 meters to the left of the patio and another 4 meters to the right of the patio, the width of the outer square = 4+9+4 = 17, implying that the area of the outer square \(= 17^2 = 289\)
Resulting difference:
outer square - patio = 289-81 = 208
The difference is too great.
Eliminate D.

B: 64
Since the area of the patio = 64, each side of the patio = 8 meters
Since the width of the walkway is 5 less than the width of the patio, the width of the walkway = 8-5 = 3 meters
Since the walkway extends 3 meters to the left of the patio and another 3 meters to the right of the patio, the width of the outer square = 3+8+3 = 14, implying that the area of the outer square \(= 14^2 = 196\)
Resulting difference:
outer square - patio =196-64 = 132
Success!

User avatar
baraa900
Joined: 26 Sep 2020
Last visit: 20 Feb 2022
Posts: 18
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 57
Posts: 18
Kudos: 5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
[quote="LiveStronger"]B

(5+3x)^2 - (5+x)^2 = 132
2x(10+4x) = 132
x(5+2x) = 33 = 3*11
So, x can be 3 and not 11

8^2 = 64[/q

how is the side of the large cube is 5?
User avatar
Fdambro294
Joined: 10 Jul 2019
Last visit: 20 Aug 2025
Posts: 1,331
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1,656
Posts: 1,331
Kudos: 772
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Area of Walkway = (Area of Entire Square) - (Area of Inner Patio Square)

Side Length of Inner Square Patio ------> the width/side is +5 more than the width X of the patio -----> A = (X + 5)

Side Length of ENTIRE Square ------> (X + 5) + X + X = (3X + 5)


Area of Walkway = (3X + 5)^2 - (X + 5)^2 = 132

(9X^2 + 30X + 25) - (X^2 + 10X + 25) = 132

8X^2 + 20X = 132

2X^2 + 5X = 33

2(x)^2 + 5(x) - 33 = 0

2(x)^2 - 6x + 11x - 33 = 0

2x(x-3) + 11(x -3) = 0

(x - 3) * (2x + 11) = 0

Since the Width = X can NOT be (-)Negative, the Width X must = +3

Area of Patio is given by ----> (X + 5)^2 = (3 + 5)^2 =

64

-B-
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
AJB77
Clearly the patio is a square, since all of its sides of off 2x from the bigger square.

Let the patio's side be a. => x=a-5

Side of bigger square = a + 2(a-5) = 3a - 10

The area of the walkway = Area of big square - Area of patio

132 = (3a-10)^2 - a^2

132 = 9a^2 -60a + 100 -a^2

This reduces to:

8a^2 - 60a - 32 = 0
2a^2 -15a - 8 = 0
2a^2 + a -16a - 8 = 0
a(2a + 1) -8(2a+1) = 0
(a-8)*(2a+1) = 0
a = 8 or -1/2, But a is positive => a=8

Patio's area = a^2 = 64

B is my answer.
­Thanks for the explaination
   1   2 
Moderators:
Math Expert
109949 posts
Tuck School Moderator
852 posts