The dimensions of Eric’s pool are 9 feet by 7 feet. He wants to build a walkway surrounding the pool so that the square footage of the walkway and pool is 143 square feet. How wide is one side of the walkway?

Question

The dimensions of Eric’s pool are 9 feet by 7 feet.  He wants to build a walkway surrounding the pool so that the square footage of the walkway and pool is 143 square feet. How wide is one side of the walkway?

anonymous · Answer

http://go.flvs.net/bbcswebdav/institution/Curr/Courses/Math/Alg_II/v11/module05/imagemod05/05_02_01a_002.jpg

apoorvk · Answer

let x be the width of the walkway he wants to build.
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total new area= (new total length)x(new total breadth)
143 = (9+2x)(7+2x)

solve the quadratic.

the value of x will give the width of the walkway (neglect negative values if any)