SOLUTION: If the sides of a square are decreased by 2cm, the area is decreased by 36cm^2. What are the dimensions of the original square?

Question 83889: If the sides of a square are decreased by 2cm, the area is decreased by 36cm^2. What are the dimensions of the original square?

Answer by stanbon(75887) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If the sides of a square are decreased by 2cm, the area is decreased by 36cm^2. What are the dimensions of the original square?
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Let the original square have sides that are "x"cm. long.
The area of this square is x^2 cm^2
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The new sqquare has sides that are "x-2"cm. long.
The area of this square is (x-2)^2 = x^2-4x+4 cm^2
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EQUATION:
original area minus new area = 36 cm^2
x^2-(x^2-4x+4) = 36
4x-4 = 36
4x = 40
x = 10 cm
The original square is 10 cm by 10 cm
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Cheers,
Stan H.
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