Answer:
<em>Width of Pathway; 2 meters</em>
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the width of the pathway we can tell that the length of the ends ( in meters ) is distributed among the two other ends of the garden so that the width ⇒
Increase length on one side * 2, if increased length / width ⇒ x, 2x
From this we can formulate an equation based on the lengths of the garden, as the increased lengths represents the side lengths of the total area ( walkway + garden );
( 12 + 2x )( 6 + 2x ) = 160 ⇒ Expand,
72 + 36x + 4x^2 = 160 ⇒ Subtract 160 on either side,
4x^2 + 36x - 88 = 0 ⇒ Factor,
4 * ( x - 2 ) * ( x + 11 ) = 0 ⇒ Use Zero Factor Principle,
x = 2, and x = - 11;
Now the width can only be a positive value, thus;
<em>Solution; Width ⇒ 2 meters</em>
