+123 A shed that measures 8 feet by 11 feet has a brick pathway of constant width built around it. The total area of the pathway is 120 square feet. What is its width (in feet)?
+129850 The area f the shed = 8 * 11 = 88 ft^2
The area of the path is 120ft^2
So...the combined area is 208 ft^2
Let the width of the path = x
And we have this equation
(shed width + 2*path width) (shed length + 2*path width) = 208
(8 + 2x) ( 11 + 2x) = 208 simplify
88 + 22x + 16x + 4x^2 = 208
4x^2 + 38x - 120 = 0 factor
(2x - 5) (2x + 24) = 0
Only the first factor will give a positive answer
2x - 5 = 0
2x = 5
x = 5/2 = 2.5 ft = path width
