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Find the value of x.


Chikis

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Please I need help with these problem:

 

A rectangular courtyard 8m by 6m has a rectangular lawn of area 12m^2 situated in it in such way as to leave a path x m wide all round the inside of the courtyard. Find the value of x.

 

From the way, I represented the xm wideness all around inside the courtyard, it shows that the area the lawn=(8-2x)m by (6-2x)m = 12m^2

 

 

 

The area of only the lawn = 12m^2

 

The area of the courtyard = 48

 

48-12 = 36

The 36m^2 is what area? Is it area of the path?

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I don't even have problem finding x. I want to verify something. If the area of path is 36m^2. What is the dimension of the path in terms of x?

 

 

I don't understand. what dimension of the path?

 

x is the width of the path.

 

The path also has a length and external and internal perimeters, because of its shape.

 

The lawn only has an external perimeter.

 

Both lawn and path have areas, you have found the path area.

 

The path area is the length times x (the width).

 

The length is the distance along the centreline of the path.

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Maybe this sketch will help - I keep saying draw a diagram.

 

What did you make x?

 

post-74263-0-46745200-1412069024_thumb.jpg

 

I have shown the centreline dashed.

 

Alternatively you can calculate as you suggest by splitting the path into two pairs so that you do not count the corner areas twice.

 

So say two 8m strips and two strips of length (6 - 2x)

 

So the total area = 2*8*x + 2*(6-2x)*x

 

This comes to the same as the equation at the bottom of my diagram.

Edited by studiot
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Area = length times width.

 

If you think about it, there must be a number that multiplies by the width to make the the area.

 

As I said this is always the length of the centre line, which is why engineers use the centre line to measure things.

This is a useful thing to learn, not often taught in maths courses.

 

;)

Edited by studiot
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