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

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Question 41048: If the sides of a square are decreased by 2cm, the area is decreased by 36 cm^2. What were the dimensions of the original square?

Found 2 solutions by Nate, checkley71:
Answer by Nate(3500) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Squares have equal sides, so each side = s.
side * side = area
s^2 = s^2
But, each side is decreased by two:
%28s+-+2%29%28s+-+2%29+=+s%5E2+-+36
s%5E2+-+4s+%2B+4+=+s%5E2+-+36
-4s+=+-40
s+=+10
Original: 10x10
New: 8x8

Answer by checkley71(8403) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
X~2-(X-2)~2=36 OR X~2-X~2+4X-4=36 OR 4X=40 OR X=10 THUS THE ORIGINAL SQUARE WAS 10*10=100 AND THE REDUCED SQUARE IS 10-2 OR 8*8=64 100-64=36 REDUCTION IN AREA.