Question

A garden in the farm of a square, is surrounded by a path which is 1m wide on two opposite sides and 1/2m wide on the other two opposite sides. If the area of the path is 17msquared, calculate the :
Perimeter of the garden
Area of the space covered by the garden and the path

Answer 1

side of the square --- x m
length of garden = x + 2 m , 1 m on each end
width of garden = x + 1 m

area of path = (x+2)(x+1) - x^2 = 17
x^2 + 3x + 2 - x^2 = 17

carry on

Answer 2

Why -x^2?

Answer 3

I took the whole garden: (x+2)(x+1)
and subtracted the inner part, which is x^2,
leaving me with the area of the path around the inner garden.
And of course that was given as 17, thus my equation.

Answer 4

Thank you very much Reiny. Done it. :) :)