The side of a square is 4 centimeters shorter than the side of a second square. If the sum of their areas is 40 square centimeters, how do you find the length of one side of the larger square?

1 Answer
Binayaka C.
Jan 19, 2016

The length of the side of larger square is 6 cms

Explanation:

Let 'a' be the side of the shorter square. Then by condition, 'a+4' is the side of larger square. We know the area of a square is equal to the square of it's side. So #a^2 + (a+4)^2 =40 # (given) or # 2 a^2 + 8*a -24 =0# or # a ^2 + 4*a -12 =0 # or # (a+6)*(a-2) = 0# So either #a=2 or a=-6# Side length canot be negative . #:. a =2 #. Hence the length of the side of larger square is #a+4 = 6# [Answer]

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