document.write( "Question 347069: A piece of twine 48 inches long is cut into two lengths. Each length is then used to form a square. The sum of the areas of the two squares is 74 square inches. Find the length of each side of the smaller square and the larger square. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #248156 by ptaylor(2198)\"\" \"About 
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Let s=one length of twine--------------------perimeter of one square
\n" ); document.write( "Then 48-s=the other length---perimeter of second square\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Side of first square=s/4; Area=s^2/16
\n" ); document.write( "Side of second square=(48-s)/4; Area=(2304-96s+s^2)/16
\n" ); document.write( "And we are told that the two areas add up to 74 sq inches, so:
\n" ); document.write( "s^2/16+(2304-96s+s^2)/16=74 multiply each term by 16
\n" ); document.write( "s^2+2304-96s+s^2=1184 simplify
\n" ); document.write( "2s^2-96s+1120=0
\n" ); document.write( "s^2-48s+560=0----------quadratic in standard form and it can be factored
\n" ); document.write( "(s-28)(s-20)=0
\n" ); document.write( "s=28 in--- solution
\n" ); document.write( "s=20 in--- -solution\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Side of larger square =28/4=7 in; area=49 sq in
\n" ); document.write( "Side of smaller square=20/4=5 in; area=25 sq in
\n" ); document.write( "49+25=74
\n" ); document.write( "74=74\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Hope this helps---ptaylor \n" ); document.write( "
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