Answer:
s = 0.75 inches
Explanation:
Let s = side length of the original square
s + 3 = side length of the new square
Area of a square = s²
A = s²
A = (s+3)²
A = s² + 6s + 9
Area multiplied by 25 = 25 * s²
So,
s² + 6s + 9 = 25s²
25s² - s² - 6s - 9 = 0
24s² - 6s - 9 = 0
8s² - 2s - 3 = 0
a = 8
b = -2
c = -3
s = -b ± √b² - 4ac / 2a
= -(-2) ± √(-2)² - 4(8)(-3) / 2(8)
= 2 ± √4 - (-96) / 16
= 2 ± √100 / 16
= 2 ± 10/16
s = 2 + 10/16 or 2-10/16
= 12/16 or -8/16
= 0.75 or -0.5
side length can not be negative
Therefore, s = 0.75
A = s²
A = (0.75)²
= 0.5625
A = (s+3)²
= (0.75+3)²
= 3.75²
= 13.95