Final answer:
The number of trees needed for a park of 24m by 18m with 2m gaps is found by calculating the perimeter and dividing it by the distance between trees, but the calculated number does not match any of the given options (21, 22, 23, 24 trees).
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the number of trees needed to be planted along the sides of a rectangular park with dimensions of 24 meters by 18 meters, with a 2-meter gap between each tree, we will calculate the perimeter of the park and then divide by the distance between each tree to find the number of gaps, which represents the number of trees.
The perimeter (P) of a rectangle is given by the formula P = 2(length + width). So, for our park, P = 2(24m + 18m) = 2(42m) = 84m. If we plant trees 2 meters apart, there will be one tree per 2 meters of perimeter.
To find how many 2-meter sections there are, we divide the perimeter by the gap: 84m / 2m = 42. However, because trees are at the ends of each side, there's always one less gap than the number of trees on each side. Therefore, since the rectangle has four corners, we subtract four: 42 - 4 = 38 trees are needed.
However, none of the options given (21, 22, 23, 24 trees) match the calculated number. Therefore, based on the given options, the answer cannot be determined accurately.