A community group is planning the expansion of a square flower garden in a city park. If each side of the original garden is increased by 3 meters, the total area of the garden will be 225 square meters. Find the length of each side of the original garden.

15 m
3 m
12 m

Question

A community group is planning the expansion of a square flower garden in a city park. If each side of the original garden is increased by 3 meters, the total area of the garden will be 225 square meters.  Find the length of each side of the original garden. 

15 m
3 m 
12 m

cloverracer · Answer

I took an educated guess and say 15 m is the answer because the square root of 225 is 15.

cloverracer · Answer

@mathmale

cloverracer · Answer

@whpalmer4

whpalmer4 · Answer

If the original garden dimensions are $x$, then the increased dimensions are $x+3$.

$$(x+3)^2 = 225$$
Solve for $x$