A rectangular garden measures 20 meters by 15 meters. If a path 1 meter wide is laid around the garden inside the perimeter, what is the area of the path?

Tue, 05 May 2026 06:46:48 +0000

**Introduction: The Secret Garden Fraction Challenge in US Backyards**
Curious homeowners and design enthusiasts alike are exploring smart ways to maximize small outdoor spaces—especially rectangular gardens surrounded by intentional pathways. A common question shaping platforms like Discover: *What’s the area of a path when a 1-meter-wide walkway is built inside a garden measuring 20 by 15 meters?* This practical challenge merges geometry with real-life landscaping decisions, influencing how people plan functional, beautiful outdoor areas. The answer isn’t just a math problem—it reveals how simple design adds space, structure, and flow to modern US gardens. **Why This Garden Layout Is Gaining Attention**
Right now, more Americans are reimagining slim or underused yard spaces due to evolving lifestyles and rising home efficiency trends. A rectangular garden measuring 20 by 15 meters fits million-family suburban yards and urban retreats. Adding a precise, 1-meter-wide path inside the perimeter transforms usable space, improves flow between areas, and supports sustainability goals. The inner garden, after subtracting the path, reveals hidden potential—this balancing act between open garden and defined pathway resonates with users researching smart landscape planning. **Solving the Area: Step-by-Step, Visually Clear**
To find the path’s area, picture the garden as a frame: 20 meters long and 15 meters wide. A 1-meter-wide path runs inside all around—left, right, top, and bottom. This reduces usable planting space in both length and width. Inside the path’s boundary, the effective dimensions become:
- Length: 20 – 2×1 = 18 meters
- Width: 15 – 2×1 = 13 meters
The inner garden area is then 18 × 13 = 234 square meters.
The total garden area is 20 × 15 = 300 square meters.
Subtracting inner from total gives the path’s area:
300 – 234 = 66 square meters.
This straightforward calculation helps users visualize their garden’s true functional footprint. **Common Questions Curious Gardeners Often Ask**
*Q: Does the path extend all the way to the garden edges?*
A: No—1 meter wide and fully enclosed, it stays 1 meter inside each boundary.
*Q: Does path width affect planting zones both inside and outside?*