SOLUTION: please help me solve for this The sides of a square are altered so that one is increased by 3 and the other is decreased by 1. The area of the new shape is 32 ft2. What was the are

Algebra ->  Customizable Word Problem Solvers  -> Geometry -> SOLUTION: please help me solve for this The sides of a square are altered so that one is increased by 3 and the other is decreased by 1. The area of the new shape is 32 ft2. What was the are      Log On

Ad: Over 600 Algebra Word Problems at edhelper.com


   



Question 944088: please help me solve for this The sides of a square are altered so that one is increased by 3 and the other is decreased by 1. The area of the new shape is 32 ft2. What was the area of the original square?
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
please help me solve for this The sides of a square are altered so that one is increased by 3 and the other is decreased by 1. The area of the new shape is 32 ft2. What was the area of the original square?
-----
Original dimensions of the square:: x by x
-----
Equation::
(x+3)(x-1) = 32
x^2 + 2x -3 = 32
x^2 + 2x - 35 = 0
Factor:
(x+7)(x-5) = 0
----
Positive solution::
x = 5
----
Ans: Original dimensions:: 5 ft by 5ft
----------------
Cheers,
Stan H.
--------------------