document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=77286>Question 77286</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> If the sides of a sqare are decreased by 2 cm, the area is decreased by 36cm^2.  What were teh dimensions of the original Square?  This comes from a chapter on factoring and I for the life of me can't see the formula correctly.  I have been working out the problem as<BR>\n" );
document.write( "36^2=x^2+x^2-2  but I know this is wrong?? Please HELP\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Debbie </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #55372 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=55372\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Let the side of the origimal square be of length x.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The original area is then <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > After decreasing the original side length by 2 (x-2), the new area is decreased by 36 sq.cm.(<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2-36 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2-36\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >).<BR>\n" );
document.write( "So, you can write:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x-2%29%5E2+=+x%5E2-36 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x-2%29%5E2+=+x%5E2-36\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Simplify and solve for x.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2-4x%2B4+=+x%5E2-36 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2-4x%2B4+=+x%5E2-36\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Subtract <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=x%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"x%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > from both sides.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-4x%2B4+=+-36 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-4x%2B4+=+-36\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >  Subtract 4 from 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 length of the side of the original square is 10 cm.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Check:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Original area is 10X10 = 100 sq.cm.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The new area is (10-2)X(10-2) = 8X8 = 64 sq.cm<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The difference: 100-64 = 36 sq.cm. </SPAN>\n" );
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