Question

The length of each side of a square is 3 in. more than the length of each side of a smaller square. The sum of the areas of the squares is 425 in^2. Find the lengths of the sides of the two squares.

Answer 1

Explanation:

let the smaller square be A, and the side is a

larger square is B, the side is a+3

Area(A)=a^2

Area(B)=(a+3)^2

a^2+(a+3)^2=425 in^2

a^2+a^2+6a+9=425

2a^2+6a=425-9

2(a^2+3a)=416 we divide by 2

a^2+3a=208

we solve the quadratic function

we will get two roots, a(1)=13, and the negative answer we will ignore

a=13 and the side of the larger square is 13+3=16