SOLUTION: If the sides of a square are decreased by 2, then the area is decreased by 36. what were the dimensions of the original square?

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Question 125960: If the sides of a square are decreased by 2, then the area is decreased by 36. what were the dimensions of the original square?
Answer by MathLover1(20850) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A=+a%5E2
A1=+A-36+=+a%5E2+-36…..(1)
A1=+%28a-2%29%5E2………..(2)
From (1) and (2), we have:
+a%5E2+-36+=+%28a-2%29%5E2+
+a%5E2+=++a%5E2-4a+%2B+4+%2B+36
+cross%28a%5E2%29+=++cross%28a%5E2%29+-4a++%2B+40
+0+=++-4a++%2B+40
+4a++=+40
+highlight%28a++=+10%29............the dimensions of the original square
Check:
A=+a%5E2
A=+10%5E2
A=+100
A1=+%2810-2%29%5E2+
A1=+%288%29%5E2+
A1=+64+

A-36=A1
100-36=64