Question

A physical therapy facility is building a new pool that is 60 feet long and 6 feet deep. They have ordered enough tile for a 160-foot-long border around the edge. How wide should the pool be to ensure that all tiles are used?

Answer 1

20 feet wide

1) Let's sketch out this pool:

2) This is a problem that deals with perimeter, so we can write out:

2p = 60 + 60 + x +x Since we have 160 foot as the perimeter

160 = 60 +60 +2x

160 = 120 + 2x Subtract 120 from both sides

160 -120 = 2x

40 = 2x Divide both sides by 2

x = 20

3) Hence, the pool must be 20 feet wide