Answer:
1.5 m
Explanation:
Length. L = 12 m
Width, W = 16 m
Area, A = 12 x 16 = 192 m^2
Let the width of pavement be d.
The new length, L' = 12 + 2d
the new width, W' = 16 + 2d
New Area, A' = L' x W' = (12 + 2d)(16 + 2d) = 192 + 56 d + 4d^2
Difference in area = A' - A
285 = 192 + 56 d + 4d^2 - 192
93 = 56 d + 4d^2
4d^2 + 56 d - 93 = 0
[tex]d = \frac{-56\pm \sqrt{56^{2}+4\times 4\times 93}}{8}[/tex]
[tex]d=\frac{-56\pm 87.72}{8}[/tex]\
d = 1.5 m
Thus, the width of the pavement is 1.5 m.
