20. A rectangular yard is 20 feet by 15 feet. The yard is covered with grass except for an 8.5 - t . square flower garden. How much grass is in the yard?

To find out how much grass is in the yard, first calculate the area of the rectangular yard by multiplying its length and width: 20 feet * 15 feet = 300 square feet. Then, find the area of the flower garden, which is 8.5 feet x 8.5 feet = 72.25 square feet. Finally, subtract the area of the flower garden from the area of the yard: 300 square feet - 72.25 square feet = 227.75 square feet. So, there are 227.75 square feet of grass in the yard! Did you know that calculating areas like this has been crucial throughout history? Ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians, used similar mathematical principles to plan agricultural lands along the Nile. From constructing pyramids to organizing farms, measuring areas was key to their success and prosperity!