If the sides of a square are lengthened by 5 cm, the area becomes 81 cm^2. Find the length of a side of the original square.

Question

If the sides of a square are lengthened by 5 cm, the area becomes 81 cm^2.  Find the length of a side of the original square.

owlfred · Answer

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anonymous · Answer

$$\sqrt[20]{(-9)^{20}}   $$       need to simplify my answer.

anonymous · Answer

let x be the original length than the new side will be (x+5)
Area of a square is side^2
(x+5)^2=81
x^2+10x-56=0
(x+14)(x-4)=0
x=-14 or x=4
clearly -14 cannot be a length so the original length was 4