AlgebraMediumWidth of a path from the outer perimeter
Algebra practice question
A rectangular garden measures 12 metres by 8 metres and is surrounded on all sides by a path of uniform width. The outer edge of the path has a perimeter of 56 metres. What is the width of the path, in metres?
Answer: 2
Outer dimensions are (12 + 2w) by (8 + 2w): 2(20 + 4w) = 56 → 40 + 8w = 56 → w = 2.
Common wrong answers
- If you answered 4
- 4 is 2w, the total added to each dimension.
- If you answered 8
- 8 comes from 40 + 2w = 56, adding w only once per side.
- If you answered 16
- 16 is 56 − 40, the extra perimeter, not the width.
More Algebra questions
- Medium
A system: 2x + y = 11 and x − y = 1. What is the value of x + y? - Medium
Which of the following describes all solutions to 4x − 9 ≤ 2x + 5? - Medium
A phone's battery percentage is modeled by P = 100 − 8t, where t is the number of hours since it was unplugged… - Medium
If y = 2x − 1 and 3x + y = 14, what is the value of x? - Medium
If |2x − 3| = 7, what is the sum of all possible values of x? - Medium
Line k has equation y = (2/3)x + 1. Which equation represents a line perpendicular to line k?
Not affiliated with the College Board. SAT is a trademark of the College Board.