Answer:
The easiest way to do this is to note that √64 = 8, so the sides of the new square have to be 8 inches long. The original square had sides that were 3 inches shorter = 8 - 3 = 5 inches. To solve it algebraically, let x = the length of the sides of the original square. The new square has sides that are 3 inches longer = x+3. The area of the new square is 64 inches: Area = (x+3)(x+3) 64 = x2 + 6x + 9 0 = x2 + 6x - 55 Factors to: 0 = (x+11)(x-5) x = -11 and 5. Since we can't have side equal -11 inches, the original sides were 5 inches long. Check:(x+3)(x+3) = 64(5+3)(5+3) = 648*8 = 6464=64 Check!
Explanation: