SOLUTION: if the sides of a square are lengthened by 5 cm, the area becomes 81cm^2. Find the length of a side of the original square

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: if the sides of a square are lengthened by 5 cm, the area becomes 81cm^2. Find the length of a side of the original square      Log On


   

Question 475515: if the sides of a square are lengthened by 5 cm, the area becomes 81cm^2. Find the length of a side of the original square
Answer by jorel1380(3719) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
(p+5)(p+5)=81
p2+10p+25-81=0
p2+10p-56=0
(p+14)(p-4)=0
p=-14 or 4
Throwing out the negative answer, we get p=4 cm to be the length of a side of the original square..