Stacey has a square piece of cloth. She cuts 3 inches off of the length of the square and 3 inches
the smaller square is
the area of the original square. What was the side length of the original square?

6 in

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x = the side length of the original square.

They removed 3 in from each side of the original square, so the side lengths of the remaining square are x - 3 in.

The area of the smaller square is (x - 3)².

The area of the original square is x²

I assume the area of the smaller square is ¼ that of the original square. Then

1. Solve for x

2. Calculate the side length of the smaller square

(a) x = 2

Side length = x - 3 = 2 - 3 = -1 in.

IMPOSSIBLE. You can't have a negative side length.

(b) x = 6

Side length of smaller square = 6 - 3 = 3 in.

Side length of original square = x = 6 in

Check:

OK.

answer: i believe its b. if you sound out the sentences that sounds wrong.

if a = 1,   and b = 2, then the answer is 47.99999999. if you round that to the nearest whole number, the answer is 48.