Question

69. Suppose the length of each side of a square is decreased by 4 feet. If the perimeter of the square is now 32 feet,

what was the original length of each side?

Answer 1

4 feet

Explanation:

Let x be the length of the side of the square, in feet. The new square has sides that are (x - 4) feet,

The perimeter of the new square would be 4(x - 4) feet. We are told this new perimeter is 32 feet, so we can write:

4(x - 4) = 32 feet

4x - 16 = 32 feet

4x = 48 feet

x = 12 feet

The original sides were 4 feet each.