Question

The length of each side of a square is 3 in more than the length of each side of a smaller square. The sum of the areas of the squares is 89 in. Find the lengths of the sides of the two squares.
A side of the small square is in.; a side of the big square is in

Answer 1

Answer:

Step-by-step explanation:

let x be the side length of the small square

x² + (x + 3)² = 89

x² + (x² + 6x + 9) = 89

2x² + 6x - 80 = 0

 x² + 3x - 40 = 0

 (x + 8)(x - 5) = 0

so x = -8 or x = 5

A negative length does not make sense

small square side 5 inch

5 + 3 = 8

large square side 8 inch