document.write( "Question 116522: If the sides of a square are decreased by 2 cm, the area is decreased by
\n" ); document.write( "36 cm^2. What were the dimensions of the original square? huh? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #84707 by josmiceli(19441) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Let $\"x\"$ = the original sides of the square
\n" ); document.write( "Let $\"A\"$ = the original area of the square
\n" ); document.write( " $\"A+=+x%5E2\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"A+-+36+=+%28x+-+2%29%5E2\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"A+-+36+=+x%5E2+-+4x+%2B+4\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x%5E2+-+36+=+x%5E2+-+4x+%2B+4\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"-36+=+-4x+%2B+4\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"4x+=+36+%2B+4\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"x+=+10\"$ cm answer
\n" ); document.write( "The original square was 10 cm X 10 cm
\n" ); document.write( "check answer
\n" ); document.write( " $\"A+-+36+=+%28x+-+2%29%5E2\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"A+-+36+=+%2810+-+2%29%5E2\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"A+-+36+=+64\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"A+=+100\"$
\n" ); document.write( "If I decrease A by 36, I get 64 cm2, and that's
\n" ); document.write( "an 8 X 8 square or (10-2) X (10-2) \n" ); document.write( "

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