What is the number of paving stones, each sized 2.5 meters by 2 meters, needed to cover a rectangular courtyard measuring 30 meters in length and 16.5 meters in width?

Explanation

To find the number of paving stones required, first calculate the area of the courtyard: 30 m × 16.5 m = 495 m². Next, find the area of one stone: 2.5 m × 2 m = 5 m². Dividing the total area by the area of one stone gives 495 ÷ 5 = 99 stones. Therefore, 99 paving stones are needed.