Calculate the Equal Orchard Surface Area with Varying Tree Densities

Question

Yolanda decides to grow apples on her farm.

In the first orchard, there are 7 trees per m². In the second orchard, there are 3 trees per m². In the third orchard, there is a single tree for every 4 m². Additionally, there are another 8 trees around the farm. The surface areas of the orchards are the same.

If Yolanda had grown the trees in a single orchard with a surface area of 516.5 m², so that every 1221 m² had one tree, the number of trees would remain the same.

What is the surface area of each orchard?

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's solve the problem using the information given:

  • Calculate the number of trees in each orchard based on their densities:
    • Orchard 1 has 7x7x trees.
    • Orchard 2 has 3x3x trees.
    • Orchard 3 has 0.25x0.25x trees.
  • The total number of trees from the three orchards is: 7x+3x+0.25x=10.25x.7x + 3x + 0.25x = 10.25x.
  • Including the additional 8 trees around the farm, the formula becomes: 10.25x+8.10.25x + 8.
  • In the hypothetical scenario, the number of trees is: 516.51221.\frac{516.5}{1221}.
  • Setting these equal gives: 10.25x+8=516.51221.10.25x + 8 = \frac{516.5}{1221}.
  • First, calculate 516.51221\frac{516.5}{1221}: 516.512210.423.\frac{516.5}{1221} \approx 0.423.
  • Simplify the equation: 10.25x+8=0.423,10.25x + 8 = 0.423, 10.25x=0.4238,10.25x = 0.423 - 8, 10.25x=7.577,10.25x = -7.577, x100.x \approx 100.

Therefore, the surface area of each orchard is 100 m².

Answer

100 m²