To find the total area of the pool and the deck combined, you'll need two things:

1. The dimensions of the swimming pool (length and width).
2. The width of the deck that surrounds the pool.

Once you have these, you can follow this general method:

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Determine the total dimensions (pool + deck):

   • If the pool's dimensions are $L$ (length) and $W$ (width), and the deck has a uniform width of $d$, the total dimensions including the deck will be:
     • Total length = $L + 2d$
     • Total width = $W + 2d$

2. Calculate the area of the pool:
   The area of the pool is simply the product of its length and width: $\text{Pool Area} = L \times W$

3. Calculate the total area (pool + deck): The total area (both the pool and the deck) is the product of the total length and total width: $\text{Total Area} = (L + 2d) \times (W + 2d)$

If you'd like to solve this for specific numbers, just provide the dimensions of the pool and the width of the deck.

Would you like to try an example with specific values, or do you have any questions so far?

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Here are 5 follow-up questions to extend understanding:

1. What if the deck only surrounds part of the pool? How would that affect the total area?
2. How would you calculate the area of the deck alone (excluding the pool)?
3. How would the calculation change if the deck had a different width on each side?
4. What happens to the total area if the width of the deck doubles?
5. How would you find the total area if the pool was circular instead of rectangular?

Tip: When calculating areas, always ensure the units are consistent (e.g., meters or feet) to avoid errors in the final result.