document.write( "Question 959921: Two opposite sides of a square are shortened by 2 units. The area of the rectangle obtained is 35 square units. What was the length of one side of the original square? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #586808 by macston(5194) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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s=side of original square; A=area of rectangle
\n" ); document.write( "A=(s)(s-2)
\n" ); document.write( " $\"35units%5E2=s%5E2-2s\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"0=s%5E2-2s-35\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"0=%28s-7%29%28s%2B5%29\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"s-7=0\"$ or $\"s%2B5=0\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"s=7\"$ or $\"s=-5\"$ ANSWER: The sides of the original square were 7 units. \n" ); document.write( "

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