Question

Please help!

Mrs. G is planning an expansion of her square back yard. If each side of the original backyard is increased by 5 m, the new total area of the backyard will be 196 m2. Find the length of each side of the original backyard.

Answer 1

9 m

Explanation:

If x is the length of the original square, then x+5 is the length of the new square.

Area of a square is the square of the side length, A = s². Since the area of the new square is 196 m²:

196 = (x + 5)²

Solving, first take the square root of both sides:

±14 = x + 5

Subtract 5 from both sides:

x = -5 ± 14

x = -19, x = 9

x can't be negative, so x = 9. The side length of the original backyard is 9 m.

Answer 2

9m

Explanation:

If Mrs. G is planning an expansion of her square back yard and side of the original backyard is increased by 5 m, the new total area of the backyard will be 196 m2. The length of each side of the original backyard is 9m.

x = length of original square

x + 5

Formula: A = s²

Therefore, the side length of the original backyard is 9 m.