document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=83889>Question 83889</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> If the sides of a square are decreased by 2cm, the area is decreased by 36cm^2. What are the dimensions of the original square?<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #60345 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=60345\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> If the sides of a square are decreased by 2cm, the area is decreased by 36cm^2. What are the dimensions of the original square?<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let the original square have sides that are \"x\"cm. long.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The area of this square is x^2 cm^2<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The new sqquare has sides that are \"x-2\"cm. long.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The area of this square is (x-2)^2 = x^2-4x+4 cm^2<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "EQUATION:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "original area minus new area = 36 cm^2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x^2-(x^2-4x+4) = 36 <BR>\n" );
document.write( "4x-4 = 36<BR>\n" );
document.write( "4x = 40<BR>\n" );
document.write( "x = 10 cm<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The original square is 10 cm by 10 cm\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H. </SPAN>\n" );
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