Question

The length of each side of a square is 3 inches more than the length of each side of a small square. The sum of the areas of the square is 549 inches. Find the lengths of the sides of the two squares.

Answer 1

Answer:

$\text{Smaller square's 15 inches, Bigger square's 18 inches}$

Step-by-step explanation:

GIVEN: The length of each side of a square is $3$ inches more than the length of each side of a small square. The sum of the areas of the square is $549$ inches.

TO FIND: the lengths of the sides of the two squares.

SOLUTION:

let the length of side of small square be $\text{x}$

Area of small square $=(\text{side})^2=\text{x}^2$

As length of each side of bigger square is $3\text{ inches}$ more than the smaller square

length of side of bigger square $=\text{x}+3\text{ inches}$

Area of bigger square $=(\text{x+3})^2$

Also

Sum of areas of both square $=549\text{ inch}^2$

$(\text{x})^2+(\text{x+3})^2=549$

$2\text{x}^2+6\text{x}+9=549$

$\text{x}^2+3\text{x}-270=0$

$\text{x}=15,-18$

as the length of side can never be negative

$\text{x}=15$

length of side of smaller square $=15\text{ inches}$

length of side of bigger square $=\text{x}+3\text{ inches}$$=18\text{ inches}$

Hence the length of smaller and bigger square are $15\text{ inches}$ and $18\text{ inches}$ respectively.