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A rectangular swimming Pool is twice as long as it is wide. A small concrete walkway surrounds the pool. The walkway is a constant 2 feet wide and has an area of 196 square feet. Find the dimensions of the pool.

A rectangular swimming Pool is twice as long as it is wide. A small concrete walkway-example-1
User Roxi
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Answer:

Let x be the width of the pool. Then the length of the pool is 2x, since it is twice as long as it is wide.

The area of the pool is (2x)(x)=2x^2

The total area of the pool and the walkway is 2x^2+196 square feet.

We can set up the equation using this information:

2x^2 + 22x = 196

Where 22x is the area of the walkway, 22x = 2x * 2 = 4x

2x^2 + 4x = 196

2x^2 + 4x - 196 = 0

Using the quadratic formula to solve the equation above:

x = (-b ± √(b^2 - 4ac))/2a

x = (-4 ± √(4^2 - 42196))/2*2

x = (-4 ± √(16 - 1568))/4

x = (-4 ± √(-1552))/4

Since x is width of the pool, it cannot be a negative value, the x value that is negative must be rejected. Therefore x = (-4 + √1552)/4 = 8

The width of the pool is 8 feet and the length is 2x = 2*8 = 16 feet

User Chathura Buddhika
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