Question

A rectangular yard measuring 26ft by 40ft is bordered (and surrounded) by a fence. Inside, a walk that is 2ft wide goes all the way along the fence. Find the area of this walk. Be sure to include the correct unit in your answer.

Answer 1

In order to find the area of the walk, first you must find the area of the yard, then the area of the walk and yard combined. 

The area of the yard (minus the walk) is simple to find. Just multiply 26 and 40, and you'd get 1,040 ft squared. 

The area of the yard including the walk is a bit more complicated. You have to include add measurement of the walk to the measurements of the length and width of the yard. However, you must add it twice, considering it goes all the way around the yard. So, since the walk is 2 feet wide, you add it (twice) to 26 (26 + 4 = 30) and twice to 40 (40 + 4 = 44). Now, multiply the two new measurements. You now have 1,320 feet squared.

So now you have the combined area of the walk and yard, and the area of the yard without the walk. To find the area of the walk, you just subtract the area of the yard from the entire measurement of both. 1,320 square feet - 1,040 square feet is 280 square feet.