SOLUTION: The lower square base of the Washington Monument has a side 21 ft. more than the upper square base. Area of the lower base is 1869 sq. ft. more than the upper base. Determine dim

Question 1048321: The lower square base of the Washington Monument has a side 21 ft. more than the upper square base. Area of the lower base is 1869 sq. ft. more than the upper base. Determine dimensions of each square.
Area = length * width
Let x = lower base
Let y = upper base
Lower:
Side: x + 21 Side: x + 21 Area: (x + 21) (x + 21)
Upper:

Side: y Side: y Area: y^2
y^2 = (x + 21) (x + 21) + 1869
y^2 = x^2 + 21x + 21x + 441 + 1869
y^2 = x^2 + 42x + 2310
Unsure from here. Thanks.

Answer by solver91311(24713) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

You are complicating the issue by introducing the second variable and then losing track of what these variables represent.

Let

represent the measure of a side of the upper square base. Then

is the area of the upper square base. Also, the measure of a side of the lower square base must be

and the area of the lower square base is

. Finally, we know that the lower square base is 1869 square feet larger than the upper square base. Consequently, if you add 1869 to an expression for the area of the upper base, you should have an expression equal to the expression for the area of the lower base, to wit:

Solve for

then calculate

John

My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it

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