document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=414362>Question 414362</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> If the sides of a square are decreased by 2 cm, the area is decreased by<BR>\n" );
document.write( "36 cm2. What were the dimensions of the original square?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Please help. I don't even know how to start. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #290646 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Earlsdon><B>Earlsdon(6294)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Earlsdon><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=290646\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Let x = the length of the side of the original square and A its area, so...<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=A+=+x%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"A+=+x%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Now decrease the sides by 2 cm (x-2). and the area by 36 (A-36), so now you have:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=A-36+=+%28x-2%29%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"A-36+=+%28x-2%29%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Substitute <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=A+=+x%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"A+=+x%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2-36+=+%28x-2%29%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2-36+=+%28x-2%29%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Simplify.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2-36+=+x%5E2-4x%2B4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2-36+=+x%5E2-4x%2B4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Combine like-terms.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2-x%5E2+-36+=+-4x%2B4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2-x%5E2+-36+=+-4x%2B4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-36+=+-4x%2B4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-36+=+-4x%2B4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Add 36 to both sides.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=0+=+-4x%2B40 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"0+=+-4x%2B40\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Add 4x to both sides.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=4x+=+40 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"4x+=+40\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Divide both sides by 4.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x+=+10 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x+=+10\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The dimensions of the original square were 10 by 10.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Check:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Original area:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=A+=+10%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"A+=+10%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=A++100 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"A++100\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "New area:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%2810-2%29%5E2+=+64 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%2810-2%29%5E2+=+64\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > <BR>\n" );
document.write( "Difference in the old and new areas:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=100-64+=+36 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"100-64+=+36\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The new area decreased by 36 sq.cm.<BR>\n" );
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