Q9: A square lawn has a 2 m wide path surrounding it.

If the area of the path is 136 m2 , find the area of

the lawn.

A9:               Let ABCD be the square lawn and PQRS be the outer boundary of the square path.

Let side of the lawn AB be x m.

Area of the square lawn = x2

Length PQ = (x m + 2 m + 2 m) = (x + 4) m

Area of PQRS = (x + 4)2 = (x2 + 8x + 16) m2

Now, Area of the path = Area of PQRS – Area of the square lawn

136 = x2 + 8x + 16 – x2

136 = 8x + 16

136 – 16 = 8x

120 = 8x

x = 120/ 8 = 15

Side of the lawn = 15 m Hence, Area of the lawn = (Side) 2 = (15 m)2 = 225 m2

Example 5: A square lawn is surrounded by a path 2 m wide around it. If the area of the path is 160 sq
m, find the area of the lawn.

Solution:

Given: A square lawn is surrounded by 2 m wide path; area of path is 160 sq m.

To find: Area of lawn.
(Hint: Lawn is surrounded by the path i.e the path is at external edge of lawn. to find area of lawn
subtract area of paths from total area)
Let side of the lawn be y, then we have:

External side including path = side of lawn + width of path on both sides.
= y + (2 + 2)
=y+4

Total area including path = (y + 4) × (y + 4).

= y² + 8y + 16 (i).
And the area of lawn = (side)² = y × y = y² (ii).

Since the area of the path is given (160 m 2), we have:

Area of path = Total area including path - area of lawn.
A = (i) - (ii).
Substitute the given values we will the following equation and by isolating y, we can determine the
length of side of the lawn:
160 = (y² + 8y + 16) - y²
160 = y² + 8y + 16 - y²
160 = y² - y² + 8y + 16
160 = 8y + 16
160 - 16 = 8y
144 = 8y
18 = y
Side of lawn = 18 m

Area of the lawn = side × side

A = s²
A = 18 × 18
A = 324 m2

Hence the area of lawn = 324 m2.

The square lawn is surrounded by a path

2.5m wide. If the area of the path is 165 Sq.,
find the area of lawn.
Answer.
Consider the side of the lawn be x

Given width of the path = 2.5m

Side of the lawn including path = x + 2(2.5m) = x + 5m

So, area of lawn = (Area of the lawn including the path) - (Area of the path)

Area of a square = (side)2

Therefore, we say :

x2 = (x + 5)2 – 165 m2

x2 = (x2 + 10x +25) - 165m2

x2 = x2+ 10x + 25 - 165

x2 = x2 + 10x - 140

x2 - 140 = x2 - 10x

x2 - x2 - 140 = -10x

-140 = -10x

i.e 140 = 10x

Therefore x = 140/10 = 14

Since the side of the lawn = 14 m

The area of the lawn = (14)2 or 196 m2. 

1. The denominator of a rational number is greater than its numerator by

3. If 3 is subtracted from the numerator and 2 is added to its
1
denominator, the new number becomes 5 . Find the original rational
number.