A pool measuring 8 meters by 26 meters is surrounded by a path of uniform width, as shown in the figure. If the area of the pool and the path combined is 1008 square meters, what is the width of the path?

Let the width path be x.

Length of the outer rectangle = 26 + 2x.

Width of the outer rectangle = 8 + 2x.

Combined Area = (2x + 26) * (2x + 8) = 1008

2x * (2x + 8) + 26 * (2x + 8) = 1008

4x² + 16x + 52x + 208 = 1008

4x² + 68x + 208 - 1008 = 0

4x² + 68x - 800 = 0. Divide through by 4.

x² + 17x - 200 = 0. This is a quadratic equation.

Multiply first and last coefficients: 1*-200 = - 200

We look for two numbers that multiply to give - 200, and add to give + 17

Those two numbers are 25 and - 8.

Check: 25*-8 = - 200 25 + - 8 = 17

We replace the middle term of + 17x in the quadratic expression with 25x - 8x

x² + 17x - 200 = 0

x² + 25x - 8x - 200 = 0

x (x + 25) - 8 (x + 25) = 0

(x+25) (x - 8) = 0

x + 25 = 0 or x - 8 = 0

x = 0 - 25 x = 0 + 8

x = - 25 x = 8

The width of the path can not be negative.

The only valid solution is x = 8.

The width of the path is 8 meters.