document.write( "Question 75750: Solve the following problem showing your work.
\n" ); document.write( "Geometry. If the sides of a square are decreased by 2 cm, the area is decreased by 36 cm^2. What were the dimensions of the original square?
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Algebra.Com's Answer #54413 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)\"\" \"About 
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solve the following problem showing your work.
\n" ); document.write( "Geometry. If the sides of a square are decreased by 2 cm, the area is decreased by 36 cm^2. What were the dimensions of the original square?
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\n" ); document.write( "Let x = side of the original square:
\n" ); document.write( "then, x^2 = area of the original square
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\n" ); document.write( "(x-2) = side of the reduced square;
\n" ); document.write( "then (x-2)^2 = area of the reduced square
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\n" ); document.write( "problems says:
\n" ); document.write( "Original area - reduced area = 36 sq cm
\n" ); document.write( " x^2 - (x-2)^2 = 36
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\n" ); document.write( "FOIL (x-2)(x-2)
\n" ); document.write( "x^2 - (x^2 - 4x + 4) = 36
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\n" ); document.write( "Remove brackets, (change the signs inside the brackets)
\n" ); document.write( "x^2 - x^2 + 4x - 4 = 36
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\n" ); document.write( "Fortunately the x^2's eliminate themselves!
\n" ); document.write( "4x = 36 + 4
\n" ); document.write( "4x = 40
\n" ); document.write( "x = 40/4
\n" ); document.write( "x = 10 cm is the dimension of the original square
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\n" ); document.write( "Can easily be checked:
\n" ); document.write( "10^2 - 8^2 =
\n" ); document.write( "100 - 64 = 36
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\n" ); document.write( "How about this? Could you follow this OK? Any questions? \n" ); document.write( "
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