Answer: the width of the uniform path is 9 meters.
Step-by-step explanation:
Let x represent the width of the uniform path.
A pool measuring 18 meters by 22 meters is surrounded by a path of uniform width. It means that the combined length of the pool and the uniform path is (18 + 2x) meters and the combined width of the pool and the uniform path is (22 + 2x) meters.
If the area of the pool and the path combined is 1440 square meters, it means that
(18 + 2x)(22 + 2x) = 1440
396 + 36x + 44x + 4x² = 1440
4x² + 80x + 396 - 1440 = 0
4x² + 80x - 1044 = 0
Dividing both sides of the equation by 4, it becomes
x² + 20x - 261 = 0
x² + 29x - 9x - 261 = 0
x(x + 29) - 9(x + 29) = 0
x - 9 = 0 or x + 29 = 0
x = 9 or x = 29
Since the width cannot be negative, then x = 9 meters
