SOLUTION: The length of each side of a square is 3in more than the length of each side of a smaller square. The sum of the areas of the squares is 149in^2. find the lengths of the sides of t

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Question 710109: The length of each side of a square is 3in more than the length of each side of a smaller square. The sum of the areas of the squares is 149in^2. find the lengths of the sides of the two squares..
Answer by sachi(548) About Me  (Show Source):
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The length of each side of a square is 3in more than the length of each side of a smaller square.
let the length of smaller square=x
the length of big square=x+3
The sum of the areas of the squares is 149in^2.
so x^2+(x+3)^2=149
or x^2+x^2+6x+9=149
or 2x^2+6x=149-9=140
or x^2+3x-70=0
or x^2+10x-7x-70=0
or x(x+10)-7(x+10)=0
or (x+10)(x-7)=0
or x=-10 or 7
taking + ve value
the sides of the smaller square=7
then the sides of the big square =7+3=10