document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=257429>Question 257429</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> if the sides of a square are lengthened by 8cm, the area becomes 144cm^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 #189337 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=nerdybill><B>nerdybill(7384)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=nerdybill><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=nerdybill><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=189337\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> if the sides of a square are lengthened by 8cm, the area becomes 144cm^2. Find the length of a side of the original square.<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Let x = length of a side of the original square<BR>\n" );
document.write( "then after the sides are lengthened by 8 cm we have<BR>\n" );
document.write( ".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(x+8)^2 = 144<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Taking the square root of both sides:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x+8 = 12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = 4 cm (length of a side of original square) </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );