Answer:
w = 25 / 4 feet wide.
Explanation:
Let's call the width of the walkway "w."
The area of the rectangular pool is 13 * 27 = 351 ft^2.
The area of the walkway can be calculated by adding up the area of four rectangles, one around each side of the pool:
2 * (13 + w) * w + 2 * (27 + w) * w = 384
Expanding the equation:
2 * 13w + 2w^2 + 2 * 27w + 2w^2 = 384
Combining like terms:
2w^2 + 40w = 384
Solving for w^2:
2w^2 + 40w - 384 = 0
Using the quadratic formula:
w = (-40 ± √(40^2 - 4 * 2 * -384)) / (2 * 2)
Simplifying:
w = (-40 ± √(1600 + 3072)) / 4
w = (-40 ± √4272) / 4
w = (-40 ± 65) / 4
w = (25 / 4) or (-105 / 4)
Since w must be a positive value, w = 25 / 4 feet wide.