document.write( "Question 255251: A piece of wire 64 centimeters in length is cut into two parts. Each part is then bent to form a square. The total area of the two squares is 130 square centimeters. How much longer is a side of the larger square than a side of the smaller square?
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Algebra.Com's Answer #187524 by palanisamy(496)\"\" \"About 
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Let the side of the larger square be x
\n" ); document.write( "and the side of the smaller square be y
\n" ); document.write( "Perimeter of the larger square =4x
\n" ); document.write( "Perimeter of the smaller square =4y
\n" ); document.write( " Total length 4x+4y = 64
\n" ); document.write( " Dividing by 4, we get x+y = 16
\n" ); document.write( " y = 16-x ...(1)
\n" ); document.write( "Total area is x^2+y^2 = 130
\n" ); document.write( " x^2+(16-x)^2 = 130
\n" ); document.write( " x^2+256+x^2-32x-130 = 0
\n" ); document.write( " 2x^2-32x+126 = 0
\n" ); document.write( " x^2-16x+63 = 0
\n" ); document.write( " (x-7)(x-9) = 0
\n" ); document.write( " x = 9 or x = 7
\n" ); document.write( "When x=9, (1)=> y = 16-9 = 7
\n" ); document.write( "Therefore the difference between the sides of the larger square
\n" ); document.write( " and smaller square = x-y = 9-7 = 2 cm
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