A rectangular garden measures 30 meters by 40 meters. A path of uniform width is built around the garden, increasing the total area to 1800 square meters. What is the width of the path?

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:44:28 +0000

**How a Rectangular Garden Expands When A Path Is Added Between America’s Growing Container for Wellness and Outdoor Living** Imagine a quiet suburban yard resting on neatly fenced garden beds—30 meters long, 40 meters wide. Now picture a carefully planned path, uniform and unobtrusive, extending around the garden, reshaping the space while preserving its natural flow. This simple design choice raises an intriguing question: *How wide is that path when total area climbs to 1800 square meters?* The answer reflects a blend of geometry and real-world design preferences shaping modern US outdoor spaces. A rectangular garden measuring 30 meters by 40 meters covers 1200 square meters. When a path of equal width surrounds it, the total area grows to 1800 square meters—a 50% increase. This shift isn’t just mathematical—it mirrors a growing trend in American home gardens where outdoor areas evolve into meditation zones, relaxation spaces, and even urban retreats. As people seek calm amid bustling lives, compact land use inspires smarter layouts without sacrificing greenery or function. Placing a uniform path around a rectangle multiplies the perimeter impact. The original outer boundary spans 140 meters (2×(30+40)), but adding a path widens all sides by the same width *w*, expanding the total perimeter. The final square dimensions become (30 + 2w) by (40 + 2w), forming a new rectangle whose area must equal 1800. Solving this equation delivers a precise, unambiguous result: the path width is exactly **5 meters**.