document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=249038>Question 249038</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> If the side of a square are lengthened by 8 cm, the area becomes 289 cm^2. Find the length of a side of the original square. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #181435 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=actuary><B>actuary(112)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-09.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=actuary><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=181435\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Let x = length of the original square\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So (x+8)^2=289\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Take the square root of each side of the equation.  \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So x+8 = 17 and -17\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Solve each linear equation\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "x+8=17, so x=9\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "and x+8=-17, so x = -25.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Since I believe that the question is dealing with a real, physical square, the second answer (x=-25) is dropped and the answer is x=9 cm.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Good luck with your math studies.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
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