document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=82945>Question 82945</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> if the sides of a square are decreased by 2 cm, the area is decreased by 36cm^2.  what were the dimensions of the origional square? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #59531 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><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=59531\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> if the sides of a square are decreased by 2 cm, the area is decreased by 36cm^2.  what were the dimensions of the origional square?<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let the original side of the square be \"x\".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Then original area is x^2<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "New side dimension is x-2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "New area is (x-2)^2<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "EQUATION:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "original area - new area = 36<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^2-(x-2)^2=36<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4x-4=36<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x-1=9<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x=10 (original square was 10 cm by 10 cm<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H.<BR>\n" );
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