rthothad wrote:
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
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!