Answer:
5 1/2 m^2
Step-by-step explanation:
Find the area of the garden including the trench. Find the area of the garden without the trench. Subtract the smaller area from the larger area.
I'll call the area of the garden with the trench Area 1 (A1). The area of the garden alone is Area 2 (A2).
Garden with the trench: 3 1/2 m by 3 m
Area 1: area = length * width
A1 = 3 1/2 m * 3 m
A1 = 7/2 m * 3 m
A1 = 21/2 m^2
A1 = 10 1/2 m^2
Garden without the trench: 2 1/2 m by 2 m
Area 2: area = length * width
A2 = 2 1/2 m * 2 m
A2 = 5/2 m * 2 m
A2 = 10/2 m^2
A2 = 5 m^2
The area of the trench is the difference in areas.
A1 - A2 =
= 10 1/2 m^2 - 5 m^2 = 5 1/2 m^2
Answer: 5 1/2 m^2
