Question

Problem solving your family has a rectangular pool that measures 18 feet by 9 feet. your family wants to put a deck around the pool but is not sure how wide to make the deck. determine how wide the deck should be when the total area of the pool and deck is 400 square feet. what is the width of the deck?

Answer 1

Let w be the width of the deck. Then, using the total area, we get:
(9+2w)(18+2w)=400
4w²+54w-238=0
2w²+27w-119=0
(2w-7)(w+17)=0
w=-17 or 7/2
Using the positive value, we get a width of 3&1/2 ft. for the deck
☺☺☺☺