document.write( "Question 41048: If the sides of a square are decreased by 2cm, the area is decreased by 36 cm^2. What were the dimensions of the original square?\r
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Algebra.Com's Answer #26463 by Nate(3500) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Squares have equal sides, so each side = $\"s\"$ .
\n" ); document.write( "side * side = area
\n" ); document.write( "s^2 = s^2
\n" ); document.write( "But, each side is decreased by two:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"%28s+-+2%29%28s+-+2%29+=+s%5E2+-+36\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"s%5E2+-+4s+%2B+4+=+s%5E2+-+36\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"-4s+=+-40\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"s+=+10\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Original: 10x10
\n" ); document.write( "New: 8x8 \n" ); document.write( "

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