This is college algebra

Question

The length of each side of a square is 3 inches more than the length of each side of a smaller square. The sum of the areas of the squares is 149 in^2. Find the lengths of the sides of the two squares

Answer 1

Little square: x by x

Larger square: (x+3) by (x+3)

 

The sum of their areas: x² + (x+3)² = 149 square inches.

 

To simplify this equation, remember when squaring the binomial (x+3) you will always get a trinomial, with

middle term +2(x)(3), i.e. the product of both of the monomials, times two.

 

This should be sufficient hinting. Now solve the equation (if lucky, you'll use factoring, after combining 'like' terms; if not, use the quadratic formula).