Question

Miriam reduced a square photo by cutting 3 inches away from the length and the width so it will fit in her photo album. The area of the reduced photo is 64 square inches. In the equation (x – 3)2 = 64, x represents the side measure of the original photo.
What were the dimensions of the original photo?

Answer 1

(x - 3)^2 = 64
x - 3 = 8
x = 11

The first answer.

Answer 2

Answer: Solving the quadratic equation, the dimensions of the original photo are 11 inches by 11 inches.

First option 11 inches by 11 inches

Solution:

Side measure of the original photo: x

(x-3)^2=64

Solving for x: Square root both sides of the equation:

√[(x-3)^2]=±√64

x-3=±8

Adding 3 both sides of the equation:

x-3+3=±8+3

x=±8+3

x1=-8+3→x1=-5<0 (negative), it's not a solution because the side measure of the original photo can be a negative number.

x2=8+3→x2=11>0 (positive). Ok

The solution is x=11 inches