document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=114255>Question 114255</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> If the sides of a square are decreased by 2 cm, the area is decreased by 36 cm squared. What were the dimensions of the original square? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #83149 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=83149\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Let x = the original length of each side of the square.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The original area is then:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=A+=+x%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"A+=+x%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Decreasing the sides by 2 cm. (x-2) results in the area being decreased by 36 sq. cm. (A - 36), so you can write:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%28x-2%29%5E2+=+%28A-36%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%28x-2%29%5E2+=+%28A-36%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > for the new area. Substitute <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=A+=+x%5E2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"A+=+x%5E2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and solve for x.<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.<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;\" >cm. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );