SOLUTION: If one side of a square is increased by 8cm and an adjacent side decreased by 2cm, a rectangle is formed whose perimeter is 40cm. Find the length of a side of the square.

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Question 214172: If one side of a square is increased by 8cm and an adjacent side decreased by 2cm, a rectangle is formed whose perimeter is 40cm. Find the length of a side of the square.
Answer by Earlsdon(6294) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let the length of a side of the square = s, then the perimeter is expressed by:
P+=+2%28s%2Bs%29 Increase one side by 8cm. to get (s+8)cm. and decrease an adjacent side by 2cm. to get (s-2)cm.. The resulting perimeter (P) is 40cm.
40+=+2%28%28s%2B8%29%2B%28s-2%29%29 Divide both sides by 2.
20+=+s%2B8%2Bs-2 Simplify.
20+=+2s%2B6 Subtract 6 from both sdes.
14+=+2s Divide both sides by 2.
7++=+s
The length of a side of the square is 7cm.