Problema Solution
If two opposite sides of a square are increased by 15 meters and the other sides are decreased by 8 meters, the area of the rectangle that is formed is 78 square meters. Find the area of the original square.
Answer provided by our tutors
Let 'a' represent the side of the original square, a>0
The dimensions of the rectangle are: a + 15 and a - 8
The area of the rectangle is: A = (a + 15)*(a - 8)
The area of the rectangle is given, it is 78 m^2 so we have:
(a + 15)(a - 8) = 78
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click here to see the equation solved for a
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a = 11 m
The area of the original square is calculated by the formula:
A = a^2
A = 11^2
A = 121 m^2
The area of the original square is 121 m^2.