Question

A cement walk 3 ft wide is placed around the outside of a rectangular garden plot that is 20ft by 30ft. Find the cost of the walk at $12.25 a square yard

Answer 1

Let us calculate the area of the walk.

Since the width of the walk is 3 feet, and the walk will be placed all the 4 sides,

Length of the plot including walk = 20 + (2 × 3) = 20 + 6 = 26 feet.

Breadth of the plot including walk = 30 + (2 × 3) = 36 feet.

Area of the plot including walk = 26 × 36 square feet.

Area of the plot = 20 × 30 square feet.

Area of the walk = (26 × 36) - (20 × 30)

= 936 - 600

= 336 square feet.

= $\frac{336}{3(3)}$ square yards

= 37.3 square yards

Cost of the walk per square yard = $12.25.

Therefore, total cost of the walk = 12.25 × 37.3 = $456.92.