I need some help with this math problem please.

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 185 in^2. Find the lengths of the sides of the two squares.

 

small side______         big side_______

Answer 1

x^2+(x+3)^2=185

x^2+x^2+6x+9=185

2x^2+6x+9-185=0

2x^2+6x-176=0

divide both sides by 2

x^2+3x-88=0

factor

88=2*2*2*11=(2*2*2)*(11)=8*11 and 11-8=3

(x+11)(x-8)=0

x-8=0

x=8 in small side

8+3=11 in big side