Question 68906
Geometry. If the sides of a square are decreased by 2cmm the area is 
decreased by 36cm^2. What were the dimensions of the original square?''.



Let x=length of each side of the original square
x^2= area of original square

Then x-2 =length of each side of the smaller square

(x-2)^2= area of smaller square

Now we are told that x^2-(x-2)^2=36 cm^2  clear parens

x^2-x^2+4x-4=36  add 4 from both sides

4x=40

x=10 cm------------------------------length of sides of original square

CK

10^2-8^2=36 
100-64=36
36=36



Hope this helps-----ptaylor