SOLUTION: A magazine prints square photographs in two sizes. The larger photographs have sides 2 cm longer than the smaller photographs. The combined area of 3 of the smaller photographs is

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Question 1155622: A magazine prints square photographs in two sizes. The larger photographs have sides 2 cm longer than the smaller photographs. The combined area of 3 of the smaller photographs is 12cm^2 more than the area of one larger photograph. Find the dimensions of the smaller photograph.
Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, mananth:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39621) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Edge length smaller photograph, x
Edge length larger photograph, x+2

The description sentence, 3x%5E2=12%2B%28x%2B2%29%5E2.
Simplify and solve.

.
.
x%5E2-2x-8=0

%28x%2B2%29%28x-4%29=0

highlight%28x=4%29


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Question about the 3x^2 comes directly from this part:
"The combined area of 3 of the smaller photographs is ,..."

Answer by mananth(16946) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A magazine prints square photographs in two sizes. The larger photographs have sides 2 cm longer than the smaller photographs. The combined area of 3 of the smaller photographs is 12cm^2 more than the area of one larger photograph. Find the dimensions of the smaller photograph.
side of small photograph = x
Area of small photograph.= x^2
Area of 3 small photograps.= 3x^2

side of large photograph = x+2
Area of small photograph.= (x+2)^2
3x^2 = (x+2)^2+12
3x^2=x^2+4x+4 +12
Simplify
2x^2-4x-16=0
/2
x^2-2x-8=0
(x-4)(x+2)=0
x=4 or -2
x=4,
small photograph =4 cm
large photograph.= 6 cm