Calculating the Perimeter of the Patio

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 68 views

Introduction

In this article, we will explore the concept of calculating the width of a stone border around a patio. Given a 12-foot by 15-foot patio, we will use the perimeter of the expanded patio to determine the width of the border. The perimeter of the patio after it is expanded is 74 feet. We will use algebraic equations to represent the relationship between the width of the border and the perimeter of the patio.

Understanding the Problem

The problem involves a 12-foot by 15-foot patio that is expanded by placing a stone border around it. The width of the border is the same all around the patio. We are given that the perimeter of the patio after it is expanded is 74 feet. Our goal is to find the width of the border, denoted by $x$ .

Calculating the Perimeter of the Patio

The perimeter of a rectangle is given by the formula $P = 2l + 2w$ , where $l$ is the length and $w$ is the width. In this case, the length of the patio is 15 feet and the width is 12 feet. Therefore, the perimeter of the original patio is:

P = 2(15) + 2(12) = 30 + 24 = 54 \text{ feet}

Calculating the Perimeter of the Expanded Patio

The perimeter of the expanded patio is given as 74 feet. Since the width of the border is the same all around the patio, we can represent the new length and width of the patio as $(15 + 2x)$ and $(12 + 2x)$ , respectively. The perimeter of the expanded patio is then given by:

P = 2(15 + 2x) + 2(12 + 2x) = 30 + 4x + 24 + 4x = 54 + 8x

Equating the Perimeters

Since the perimeter of the expanded patio is 74 feet, we can set up the equation:

54 + 8x = 74

Solving for $x$

To solve for $x$ , we can subtract 54 from both sides of the equation:

8x = 20

Next, we can divide both sides of the equation by 8:

x = \frac{20}{8} = \frac{5}{2} = 2.5 \text{ feet}

Conclusion

In this article, we used algebraic equations to calculate the width of a stone border around a patio. Given a 12-foot by 15-foot patio and a perimeter of 74 feet, we were able to determine the width of the border to be 2.5 feet. This problem demonstrates the importance of using mathematical equations to represent real-world problems and solve for unknown variables.

Additional Information

The width of the border is the same all around the patio.
The perimeter of the patio after it is expanded is 74 feet.
The length and width of the patio are 15 feet and 12 feet, respectively.
The perimeter of the original patio is 54 feet.

References

[1] Algebraic Equations. (n.d.). In Encyclopedia of Mathematics. Retrieved from https://encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php/Algebraic_equations
[2] Perimeter of a Rectangle. (n.d.). In Math Open Reference. Retrieved from https://www.mathopenref.com/rectangleperimeter.html

Mathematical Formulas

Perimeter of a Rectangle: $P = 2l + 2w$
Algebraic Equation: $ax + b = c$

Glossary

Perimeter: The distance around a shape.
Algebraic Equation: An equation that involves variables and constants.
Width of the Border: The distance between the edge of the patio and the edge of the stone border.
A 12-foot by 15-foot Patio Expansion: Calculating the Width of a Stone Border - Q&A =====================================================================================

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the concept of calculating the width of a stone border around a patio. Given a 12-foot by 15-foot patio and a perimeter of 74 feet, we were able to determine the width of the border to be 2.5 feet. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions related to this problem.

Q&A

Q: What is the perimeter of the original patio?

A: The perimeter of the original patio is 54 feet.

Q: How do we calculate the perimeter of the expanded patio?

A: To calculate the perimeter of the expanded patio, we need to add the width of the border to the length and width of the original patio. The new length and width of the patio are $(15 + 2x)$ and $(12 + 2x)$ , respectively. The perimeter of the expanded patio is then given by:

P = 2(15 + 2x) + 2(12 + 2x) = 30 + 4x + 24 + 4x = 54 + 8x

Q: How do we solve for $x$ ?

A: To solve for $x$ , we can subtract 54 from both sides of the equation:

8x = 20

Next, we can divide both sides of the equation by 8:

x = \frac{20}{8} = \frac{5}{2} = 2.5 \text{ feet}

Q: What is the width of the border?

A: The width of the border is 2.5 feet.

Q: Why is the width of the border the same all around the patio?

A: The width of the border is the same all around the patio because the problem states that the width of the border is the same all around the patio.

Q: What is the perimeter of the expanded patio?

A: The perimeter of the expanded patio is 74 feet.

Q: How do we use algebraic equations to represent real-world problems?

A: We use algebraic equations to represent real-world problems by identifying the variables and constants involved in the problem. We then use mathematical operations to solve for the unknown variables.

Q: What is the importance of using mathematical equations to solve real-world problems?

A: The importance of using mathematical equations to solve real-world problems is that it allows us to represent complex problems in a simple and concise way. It also allows us to use mathematical operations to solve for the unknown variables.