Question

A rectangular plot of land is 4 meters longer than it is wide. It's surrounded by a multicolored walk 1 m wide. The area of the walk is 32 m. What are the dimensions of the pool?

Answer 1

area of plot = x(x+4)
area of pool = (x-2)(x+2)

so x(x+4) - (x-2)(x+2) = 32

solve for x, sub into x-2 and x+2

(I got x=7)

Answer 2

Where did you get the x-2?

Answer 3

If the plot is 7 m wide and there is a walkway of 1 m on either side of the pool, isn't the pool 5 m wide?
so 7-2
or x-2

that is also how I got x+2 for the length of the pool, it was x+4, now take away 1 m from each side.....

Answer 4

Thanks!