document.write( "Question 1202975: A wire 80 cm in length is cut into two parts and each part is bent to form a square. If the sum of the areas of the squares is 300 cm?, find the lengths of the sides of the two squares \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #838194 by math_helper(2461) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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document.write( "x = length of each side of first square
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document.write( "y = length of each side of second square\r
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document.write( "We get:\r
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document.write( "(1)  4x + 4y = 80            <--- from length information  
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document.write( "(2)  x^2 + y^2 = 300         <--- from area information\r
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document.write( "Eq (1) can be solved for y;  4y = 80-4x ==>  y=20-x\r
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document.write( "Substitute \"20-x\" for \"y\" in (2), to get:\r
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document.write( " From WolframAlpha:
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document.write( "  x =  or  x = \r
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document.write( "If x = , we get  y = 
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document.write( "(which makes sense, it is the other choice for x above, as the assignments of x and y are arbitrary).  \r
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document.write( "Answer:
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document.write( "  The sides of the two squares measure  and \r
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