SOLUTION: if the sides of a square are decreased by 2 cm, the area is decreased by 36cm^2. what were the dimensions of the origional square?

Question 82945: if the sides of a square are decreased by 2 cm, the area is decreased by 36cm^2. what were the dimensions of the origional square?
Answer by stanbon(75887) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
if the sides of a square are decreased by 2 cm, the area is decreased by 36cm^2. what were the dimensions of the origional square?
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Let the original side of the square be "x".
Then original area is x^2
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New side dimension is x-2
New area is (x-2)^2
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EQUATION:
original area - new area = 36
x^2-(x-2)^2=36
4x-4=36
x-1=9
x=10 (original square was 10 cm by 10 cm
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Cheers,
Stan H.

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